Santiago Pleads Guilty

MAN SENTENCED TO 47 YEARS IN STABBING DEATH, BODY BURNING

Deputy public defender Julie Tolleson, left, and Jesus Santiago consult Monday before he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Deputy public defender Julie Tolleson, left, and Jesus Santiago consult Monday before he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

— A judge sentenced a Springdale man to 47 years in prison Monday for the stabbing death of Carlos Roberto Eschevarria Sepulveda, whose body was discovered in a burned car in Benton County last May.

Jesus Santiago, 35, killed Sepulveda, 26, of Springdale on May 15 at Santiago's Springdale apartment at Johnson Meadows Place. Sepulveda's charred body was found in the trunk of his car near Siloam Springs two days later. Dental records were used to identify Sepulveda.

Santiago faced an initial charge of capital murder but reached a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to plead guilty to first-degree murder and arson in Washington County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge William Storey sentenced him to 40 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 13 years suspended on the murder charge and 20 years on the arson charge. The sentences will run consecutively. He was given credit for 322 days jail time served.

"I'm very, very sorry about everything that's happened," Santiago told Storey through an interpreter.

Storey said the murder appeared to be a senseless tragedy brought about by alcohol abuse. Santiago agreed.

Prosecuting Attorney John Threet said several acquaintances, including Santiago and Sepulveda, had been drinking at Santiago's apartment May 15. Sepulveda, armed with a knife, threatened to kill several of the people there. One person fled.

Later in the evening, Santiago stabbed Sepulveda, who was no longer armed.

On May 17, Santiago and several others put Sepulveda's body in the trunk of his car, drove it to Benton County and set it ablaze.

Threet said the plea bargain came about because of the circumstances of the case.

"The deceased did not have completely clean hands in all this," Threet said. "Had he been stabbed to death while he was chasing someone with a knife, they may have had a good self-defense claim. But, clearly there were other options available."

Threet said Santiago could have called police.

"I think the judge was right, if they'd all been sober this would not have happened," Threet said. "These guys had been drinking and all knew each other."

Sepulveda, originally from Puerto Rico, was a legal U.S. resident who had been living in Springdale since September 2008. Several members of Sepulveda's family, including two sisters, a brother and his mother, all from Puerto Rico, attended the sentencing but did not address the court or speak with the media afterward. They did meet with prosecutors and police.

"They were very appreciative of the Benton County Sheriff's Office and the Springdale Police Department," Threet said. "We had kept them updated and informed throughout. They seemed to understand what went into the decision process."

The murder occurred in Washington County and the arson in Benton County, but both were combined in one case and prosecuted in Washington County, Threet said.

Four other people, all Springdale residents, pleaded guilty to helping Santiago.

Jose Angel Telmont-Baez, 28, and Juan Ayala-Rodriguez, 23, both pleaded guilty Monday to hindering apprehension. Both were sentenced to 20 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with eight years suspended. Telmont-Baez told police he saw Santiago kill Sepulveda. Both Telmont-Baez and Ayala-Rodriguez went with Santiago to dispose of the body, according to prosecutors.

Pedro Gonzalez-Tellado, 31, pleaded guilty Friday to hindering apprehension. Jaimy Beck-Torres, 31, pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to hinder apprehension. Neither Gonzalez-Tellado nor Beck-Torres were at the apartment when Sepulveda was killed, but both bought gasoline for Santiago to burn the car and body, according to prosecutors.

Gonzalez-Tellado was sentenced to 16 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 12 years suspended.

Beck-Torres was sentenced to 120 days at a community punishment facility, six years probation and fined $1,000. She was given credit for 31 days jail time served.

"You've clearly picked the wrong people to spend time with," Storey told Beck-Torres.

Legal Lingo

Capital Vs. First-Degree Murder

Capital murder: Punishable by either life in prison without the possibility of parole or death.

First-degree murder: Punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.

Source: Staff Report

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