Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 | 4:35 p.m.
The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Las Vegas man who shot his estranged girlfriend and then fled to Mexico before being captured.
The court denied a petition filed by Hector Vasquez who pleaded guilty to the murder of Patricia Ocanas, the mother of his two children.
Vasquez petitioned the court for a writ, claiming he did not receive effective assistance from his trial lawyer, who advised him to plead guilty. The court, in upholding the decision of District Judge Stefany Miley, said, "Candid advice about the potential outcome at trial is not deficient performance."
The court said there was premeditation on the part of Vasquez and he received a benefit of pleading guilty. There was evidence that Vasquez believed another man was involved with Ocanas and he threatened to kill them both.
He received two consecutive 20 years-to-life terms plus other sentences for his act.
In a second decision Wednesday the court turned down the appeal of ex-UNLV football player Narcus Wesley convicted of 18 counts in a robbery, burglary and sexual assault in Henderson in February 2007.
Wesley maintained his lawyer was ineffective at trial. The court denied the petition and upheld the decision of District Judge James Bixler.
Wesley and Delarian Wilson entered an apartment in Henderson where there were three men and a woman. They took cash, credit cards and other gear and the ordered one of the men to have sex with the woman.
Wesley was given two consecutive 10 years-to-life terms in prison plus numerous sentences.
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