By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Pawnee man accused of methamphetamine trafficking in Noble County has been convicted of shooting a Stillwater woman, who owed him money, in both of her legs, Payne County Assistant District Attorney Debra Vincent told KUSH.
A Payne County jury composed of seven women and five men deliberated almost five hours last week before finding Joseph Gerardo Vazquez, 36, guilty of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, Vincent said.
Jurors recommended a 10-year prison term and a $10,000 fine for Vazquez, who remains jailed pending his Oct. 6 sentencing before Payne County Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler.
“The victim did not testify in person. She was declared unavailable and her preliminary hearing testimony was allowed to be presented,” according to Vincent, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Erica Garuccio.
“The defendant essentially argued self-defense…Additionally, the jury was allowed to see a text message he sent the victim about 10 days before the incident.
“All the evidence was consistent in saying she owed the defendant $510,” Vincent said.
In Vazquez’s statements, he said “the debt included drug money and that he had used meth that day.
“The paramedic testified he made the decision to have her life-flighted to OU (Medical Center) because he evaluated the injuries as potentially life-threatening and/or limb-threatening,” Vincent said.
The victim required surgery and the placement of pins, she added.
When Stillwater Police Officer Greg Calloway arrived at a trailer in the 2900 block of E. 6th Street about 10:15 p.m. on March 21, 2019, the victim was screaming and crying on the ground, an affidavit said.
She said, “Joseph came to her trailer to collect some money that she owed him,” the affidavit said.
According to the victim’s boyfriend, “Joseph went back to the car on the passenger side and pulled out a gun and fired it straight up in the air one time,” the affidavit alleged.
The boyfriend said the victim “walked across the front yard toward Joseph and yelled at him, something to the effect of ‘my kids are in the house!"” the affidavit said.
The boyfriend said, “Joseph pointed the gun at her legs and pulled the trigger twice striking (her) in both legs,” the affidavit alleged.
He said “Joseph then got into the car and the female driver sped away southbound on Drury Street,” the affidavit said.
Vazquez was arrested that same night and jailed on $100,000 bail. Vazquez has not yet appeared in court on his charge of methamphetamine trafficking in Noble County, court records show.
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