Three plead guilty in NLV gang initiation beating death

Thursday, June 25, 2009 | 4:39 p.m.

Gang Arrests

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Three men arrested for murder in the fatal beating of a 21-year-old North Las Vegas man during a gang initiation agreed earlier this week to plead guilty to lesser charges.

Edgar Ginez, 19, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and faces one to 10 years in prison.

Jacob Hoffman, 18, could serve one to five years on a charge of reckless disregard of persons, resulting in death.

Xavier Gonzalez, 24, who police said recorded the assault on Armando Castro and briefly posted it on YouTube, pleaded guilty to the same charge as Hoffman but faces a sentence of 14 months to three years.

The three men had been booked on murder charges and were scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday. Instead, they entered their pleas and were scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 24.

They remain in the Clark County Detention Center without bond.

According to police reports, on March 14, the three men were initiating Castro into the Vicky’s Town gang through what is known as a “court in” or “jump in” in which the prospective member is beaten for a certain length of time. In Castro’s case, he was punched, kicked and stomped on for 13 seconds -- a symbolic number for the gang. Afterward, Castro was driven home unconscious. His sister called for an ambulance the next morning and he underwent surgery at Valley Hospital.

Castro died March 17 from his injuries.

The beating was uploaded to YouTube but later removed by the same poster, according to police reports.

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding 24-year-old Dwayne Romero, also known as “Smokey,” in connection with the beating. He is 6-feet tall, weighs 180 pounds and has VST TRESA tattooed on his back and VICKYS TOWN tattooed on the back of his head, police said.

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

By bdover

6/25/09 at 5:24 p.m.

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I've noticed that there seems to be a lot of violence in North Las Vegas lately. Is it a result of our lack of government support for these unfortunate people who have fallen on hard times? I think so. We need to prioritize, and use sales tax and other monies to help these distressed decent people. Raise taxes now...
By stown

6/25/09 at 6:37 p.m.

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What is sad here these thugs were allowed to plea to a lessor charge for taking the life of a human being. I guess its cheaper to plea than to ask for their life in prison or the death penalty in this case. I guess the victims family is happy with the DA office. Its a wonder why anyone lives in LV with a reported murder everu week in the LV Sun or LVRJ. This what turns tourist away. The neighborhoods and poliuce department need to work together to combat crime its sad 10 years for a life.
By stratboy

6/25/09 at 6:50 p.m.

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Notice that the violence that happens, occurs within itself. What I mean by that, is the violence is not random. It is always a targeted attack, either gangs or drugs. Home invasion crimes are always becuase of the house being invaded, they are slangin drugs out of it. Never random.
By Bodytalk555

6/25/09 at 8:26 p.m.

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Thanks Ted kennedy 1965, 1986.
By Narcissa

6/25/09 at 9:39 p.m.

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Bodytalk, how right you are. This article and others like it reflect the legacy of the decisions made during those years. The consequences, as we can see, have been catastrophic to this country.

Get ready for round three.
By cisea

6/26/09 at 7:44 a.m.

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Losers...send them back to their homeland
By stevem

6/26/09 at 9:55 a.m.

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bdover, you are such a bleeding heart liberal.

this stuff happens BECAUSE we give money to these people.
By goingbust

6/26/09 at 1:41 p.m.

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Why give a deal to these guys? Is it that hard to get a murder conviction around these here parts? I would have fully prosecuted them for a 2nd degree murder charge.

But that's just me. The don't call me Bulldog Internet Psycho Boi for nothing.
By henderson

6/26/09 at 4:08 p.m.

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This here is actually good news. One gangbanger dead, 3 more in prison. That works for me, although I would like to see longer sentences.
By BaitSlinger

6/26/09 at 11:25 p.m.

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Funny way to initiate someone by killing them. I would think the number of new members would be small at best. I guess the good news is that four of "them" are off the street.
By Rocco

6/27/09 at 8:01 a.m.

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in a very short time they will be back on the street as trainned animals far worse than they are now........all three should at least got 20 years ..... trust if they got 5 years they will be out in 3
By Unk

6/29/09 at 1:47 p.m.

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So they are making "deals" with murderers now? 1 to 5 years for beating a person to death on a public street?

There are not words to describe just how broken the Court System is.

These people should have been doing minimum life in prison.
By Rocco

7/1/09 at 12:08 p.m.

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geeze worse than I thought why not just give them a pass and send them back to there gang that should make some of you racist happy they kill mostky thier own.......blonde white kid 20-life
dark kid 14 months to 3 years out in a year