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Giants Villalona looking at 20 years for shooting
By Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin September 20, 2009 |
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SAN FRANCISCO--Giants 19 year old prospect Angel Villalona is looking at 20 years for the shooting death of Mario Felix de Jesus Velete, 25. Reasons for the shooting are sketchy but sources say it was over an argument that raged into the shooting death. The shooting which took place in the Dominican and police have said that Villalona is the prime suspect. Police in the Dominican have not named any others suspects in the case. The murder took place sometime around 11PM Saturday night. Villalona is scheduled to appear in court and has been informed that the murder charge carries a 20 year sentence he would be out of jail by age 39 and his baseball career would have passed him by. Villalona signed with the parent team for a $2.1 million signing bonus and went onto play for the San Jose Giants the Giants Single A affiliate. Villalona this season hit .276 with nine homers and 74 RBIs. Villalona had to leave the team in July because of a quadriceps injury. The Giants issued a statement on the murder charges: "The Giants were disappointed to learn that there was an incident in the Dominican Republic in which an individual was killed and one of our minor league prospects, Angel Villalona, may have been involved. We will monitor the situation closely and trust that the judicial process in the Dominican Republic will resolve the matter promptly and fairly." Former BALCO VP willing to testify against Bonds: Federal prosecutors in the Barry Bonds BALCO/steroids trial are still pursuing a reversal of U.S.District Judge Susan Illston's decision to use evidence and testimony to proceed with the perjury charges against the former Giant outfielder. Federal prosecutor U.S. assistant District Attorney Barbara Balliere argued in court that the evidence presented by the government was strong enough to continue and bring to trial Bonds for lying under oath that he didn't knowingly use steroids. The evidence presented by prosecutors that was turned back by Illston were three positive urine and blood tests from 2000 and 2001 taken from the BALCO labs that were labeled "Barry" or "Barry B". Illston said the evidence was inadmissible because Bonds personal trainer Greg Anderson prepared the tests and delivered the sample to BALCO refuses to testify and has said he would be willing to go back to jail for contempt of court again. Former BALCO vice president James Valente has been willing to testify for the government that the samples came from Anderson who delivered to BALCO. Judge Illston said that was considered hearsay evidence since Anderson has refused to testify and admit that the samples came from him. Balliere said that the government has enough evidence on hand to prosecute Bonds and that if the three panel judges would reverse Illston's decision. It didn't look good for the prosecution when judge panelist Mary Schroeder asked Balliere how can the government show that the samples were genuine and that they hadn't been altered. Bonds lawyer Dennis Riordan said, "There is probably no area in which lies and forgeries and misstatements occur more frequently than in the area of drug testing." Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin cover Giants baseball for Sportstalk Radio |
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