U.S. Attorney's office in northern WV district seeking death penalty for suspects in 2012 murder at USP Hazelton
By WDTV News
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WDTV) -- The United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia is seeking the death penalty for two federal inmates accused of murdering another inmate at USP Hazelton.
29-year-old Michael Owle of Cherokee, North Carolina and 39-year-old Ruben Laurel, of San Antonio, Texas have each been charged with First Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The two allegedly repeatedly stabbed two inmates at the federal prison in August of 2012, resulting in the death of 31-year-old Anthony Dallas.
On Wednesday, The United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia filed an intent to seek the death penalty for Owle and Laurel.
"The United States Government will seek the death penalty for each defendant for the murder count, in accordance with the decision and directive by Attorney General Jeff Sessions," officials with the office stated in a press release.
The death penalty sentences would be for the First Degree Murder charges, with each defendant also facing a sentencing of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the assault charges.
"The notice to seek the death penalty includes intent factors that allege Owle and Laurel acted with intent against their victim, and that their intentional acts of violence resulted in the victim’s death. The notice sets forth statutory aggravating factors including that Owle and Laurel committed the crime after substantial planning and premeditation to cause death, and committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner.
Both men have previously been convicted of two or more felonies," officials stated.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen L. Vogrin and Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States government.
http://www.wdtv.com/content/news/US-...481542011.html
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