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Thread: Alvaro Duarte Pleads Guilty in 2009 AZ Slaying of 3-year-old Alisandra Romero, Receives "Natural Life" Sentence

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    Alvaro Duarte Pleads Guilty in 2009 AZ Slaying of 3-year-old Alisandra Romero, Receives "Natural Life" Sentence

    A conviction could mean the death sentence for an Avondale man charged with killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter in November.

    The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has filed its intent to seek the death penalty against Alvaro Francisco Holguin Duarte, 23. He faces charges of first-degree murder and two felony counts of child abuse in the death of Alisandra Oliviana Romero, according to court documents.

    The Attorney's Office listed aggravating factors as reason for seeking the death penalty, saying Duarte "committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel or depraved manner," given how helpless Alisandra was, her physical and mental suffering, the senselessness of the murder, and Duarte's violation of his caretaker relationship with Alisandra.
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    Duarte was baby-sitting Alisandra and her six other siblings while his girlfriend was at work on Nov. 17, police said. Emergency crews were called to the couple's apartment on the 300 block of East Van Buren Street about 9:30 a.m. when Alisandra stopped breathing. When paramedics arrived, they found the girl covered in bruises.

    Duarte told police he slapped Alisandra when he discovered she had gone to the bathroom in her pants, court documents show. Alisandra's 11-year-old brother later told police he saw Duarte stomp on Alisandra's chest.

    Alisandra was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m. at West Valley Hospital in Goodyear.

    Duarte pleaded not guilty Dec. 11. His trial management conference is schedule for Jan. 20.

    http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/15/20090115swv-deathpenalty0115-on.html

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    An Avondale man accused of killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter has been declared mentally incompetent and ordered into involuntary treatment, according to Maricopa County Superior Court documents.

    A judge declared Alvaro Holguin Duarte, 24, "criminally incompetent" on July 30 after three doctors conducted separate medical evaluations, court records show. The judge ruled that Duarte was "unable to understand the nature of the proceedings" and was "unable to assist the counsel" in his defense.

    Duarte was ordered to undergo treatment at the Maricopa County Correctional Health Services Restoration Program, documents show. They will have 21 months to restore his competency or the charges against him will be dropped.
    Duarte was indicted on first-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse last November in the death of his girlfriend's daughter, Alisandra Oliviana Romero, authorities said. He could receive the death penalty if he is convicted in trial.

    Duarte was baby-sitting Alisandra and her six siblings while his girlfriend was at work on Nov. 17, police said. Emergency crews were called to the couple's apartment in the 300 block of East Van Buren Street about 9:30 a.m. when Alisandra stopped breathing. When paramedics arrived, they found the girl covered in bruises.

    Duarte told police he slapped Alisandra when he discovered she had relieved herself in her pants, court documents show. Alisandra's 11-year-old brother later told police he saw Duarte stomp on Alisandra's chest.

    Alisandra was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m. at West Valley Hospital in Goodyear.

    Duarte pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Dec. 11.

    http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2009/08/26/20090826swv-incompetent0829.html

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    Avondale man pleads guilty to 2008 murder of 3-year-old girl

    An Avondale man accused of killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter more than two years ago has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, according to Maricopa County Superior Court records.

    Alvaro Holguin Duarte, 25, reached a plea deal with prosecutors Wednesday that ensures he won't receive the death penalty, court documents state. Prosecutors also dismissed two charges of felony child abuse.

    Duarte is expected to be sentenced to "natural life" in prison on March 2, said Robert Storrs, Duarte's attorney.

    "It's better than getting the death penalty, or potentially getting the death penalty and the anxiety that's involved because you don't know what's going to happen," Storrs said.

    Duarte is accused of killing 3-year-old Alisandra Romero on Nov. 17, 2008. He was baby-sitting her and her six siblings while his girlfriend was at work, police said. Emergency crews were called to the couple's Avondale apartment about 9:30 a.m. when the girl stopped breathing. Paramedics found her covered in bruises.

    Duarte told police he slapped Alisandra when he discovered she had relieved herself in her pants, authorities said. Her 11-year-old brother later told police he saw Duarte stomp on her chest.

    Duarte had been declared "criminally incompetent" to stand trial in June 2009 following medical evaluations by three physicians, according to court records. He was declared mentally competent last May following months of court-ordered treatment.

    Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Janet Barton granted Duarte's request that his mother, a Mexican citizen, attend his sentencing, documents show.

    Storrs said Duarte made the request because it will be difficult for his mother to visit him in prison.

    "He may never see her again," he said.

    Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...#ixzz1B321o2jm

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    Avondale Man Gets Life for Murder of Girlfriend's 3-Year-Old Daughter

    An Avondale man convicted of murdering his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter was in Maricopa County Superior Court this morning where Judge Janet Barton sentenced him to naturla life in prison.

    Alvaro Holguin Duarte pleaded guilty to the 2008 murder of Alisandra Oliviana Romero, his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter.

    On November 17, 2008, police were called to Duarte's home, where he was babysitting his girlfriend's six children.

    When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found Romero not breathing and covered in bruises.

    Duarte told investigators he slapped the girl when he realized she had soiled herself, however, one of the girl's siblings told police he watched Duarte stomp on the girl's chest.

    Duarte could have faced the death penalty had he not accepted a plea deal sparing him a spot on death row.
    "It's better than getting the death penalty, or potentially getting the death penalty and the anxiety that's involved because you don't know what's going to happen," Duarte's attorney, Robert Storrs, told the Arizona Republic after his client pleaded guilty in January.

    http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/val...fe_for_mur.php

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