Pictured Above: Robert Eugene Vasquez. Source: Orange County Register.

Robert Eugene Vasquez is charged with special circumstances murder by lying in wait, aggravated assault, and a sentencing enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon. These charges stem from an incident occurring on December 1, 2011, in which Vasquez was waiting outside of his neighbor’s mobile home with the intention of murdering him. When Vasquez’s neighbor, Bobby Ray Rainwater Jr., came out of his home, Vasquez punched Rainwater in the back of the head and then stabbed him multiple times until Rainwater died. Two days later, Vasquez went to another residence in San Juan Capistrano and hit victim Lance Lyon in the face as he was laying down. Vasquez was arrested for these crimes and is currently in an Orange County jail awaiting his arraignment.

If someone is charged with a special circumstance murder, the state may sentence them to life in prison or even to the death penalty. Special circumstances include murdering a police officer or judge, murder by destructive device, murder committed while lying in wait, murder committed for racist or religious motives, and a  murder committed during the commission of an enumerated felony. If you are charged with murder, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you in fighting your charges or reducing your sentence. Common defenses to murder include mistaken identity, accident, self defense, the defense of other, and insanity.