August 24, 2007
BY KEITH EPPS
A man who blamed his decisions to illegally kill deer and elude
police on being "stupid" was ordered yesterday to serve two years in
prison.
Juan Francisco Urias, 22, of King George County pleaded guilty to
eluding police, a felony, and multiple misdemeanors in King George
Circuit Court.
Judge Horace A. Revercomb III sentenced him to a total of 61/2 years
in prison with all but two years suspended.
After he serves his time, prosecutor Matt Britton said, Urias is
scheduled to be deported because he is an illegal immigrant.
According to the evidence, game warden Frank Spuchesi set up a
stakeout in the Igo Road area of King George Dec. 3 in response to
suspicions of illegal hunting in that area.
About 8:15 that night, Spuchesi saw a man shine a spotlight on a deer
while another man fired a shot. The shot was in the direction of the
game warden, who was nearly 200 yards away.
When Spuchesi identified himself, the suspects sped away. The
subsequent chase lasted just over nine miles and featured speeds of more
than 90 mph.
The chase ended near the intersection of State Routes 218 and 206,
where deputies had set up stinger strips in anticipation of the fleeing
suspects.
Urias, the driver, immediately gave a statement in which he said he
ran because he didn't want to mess up his status in the area drug court
program and because "I thought I could get away."
Asked yesterday why he took such a chance instead of simply hunting
legally, Urias replied, "Because I am stupid." He gave the same answer
to a couple of other questions.
The other suspect, Habid J. Ramirez, 19, of King George, pleaded
guilty to charges in May and was ordered to serve two months in jail.
Urias was dating Ramirez's cousin at the time, according to the
evidence.
Both men told police they had spotlighted deer many times in
Westmoreland, but only a couple of times in King George.
Keith Epps: kepps@freelancestar.com
