Small Town News

Rock throwing incident lands pair in De Baca County jail

---

A pair of 19-year-old men are awaiting sentencing in the De Baca County Jail after pleading guilty to throwing a two-pound rock through the windshield of a semi-tractor Sunday on U.S. 84 north of Fort Sumner.

William G. Langella, of 7615 Briar Ridge NW in Albuquerque, and Ronald J. Cain of 60 Cedar Lane in Moriarty, pleaded guilty in De Baca County Magistrate Court Monday before Judge Buddy Hall.

According to a De Baca County Sheriff's Department report, Langella owned the 2002 Chrysler Sebring in which the men were traveling. Cain was driving the vehicle north on U.S. 84 at approximately 7:47 p.m. near mile marker 4. The report said Langella admitted throwing a rock over the top of the vehicle at a semi-tractor trailer rig driven by Arturo De La Pena of Pleasanton, TX.

The rock struck the passenger side windshield of the truck, owned by Robert Heath Trucking, shattering the glass and striking the passenger seat with enough force to twist the seat's metal frame. De La Peña called 9-1-1 and believing that the windshield had been shot out, gave a description of the vehicle, which had small blue lights mounted on the hood.

Deputy Chad Roybal recalled passing the vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 84 and North 4th Street two minutes earlier in downtown Fort Sumner. While Deputy Kurt Griego met the truck driver at a local convenience store, Roybal headed north and caught up with the suspect vehicle near mile marker 13. Sheriff Dennis Cleaver joined Roybal where the vehicle was pulled over.

After stopping the car and gaining permission to search, Roybal and Cleaver were informed by radio that Griego's inspection of the truck turned up the rock. Langella and Cain were detained and taken back to Fort Sumner, where they were read their rights and questioned. They eventually admitted to committing the crime and were booked into De Baca County Jail.

After consultation with District Attorney Ron Reeves, Langella was charged with criminal damage to properly under $1,000 and Cain was charged with accessory to criminal damage to property under $1,000. Both are misdemeanor charges.

Both pleaded guilty at their first appearance Monday before Judge Hall, who ordered a presentence report before pronouncing sentence on the two men.



Copyright 2009 De Baca County News, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 De Baca County News Fort Sumner, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from De Baca County News