Lucio Vargas, 22, convicted of robbing a Las Cruces area Pic Quik twice within weeks of each incident has been sentenced to prison for 24 years.
Last November the defendant robbed the Pic Quik location at 127 E. Amador armed with a BB gun and demanded cash from the clerk. Vargas plead guilty in January but since Vargas did not have any prior offenses the judge reduced bond and ordered the defendant released from custody with third party supervision pending sentencing. Vargas, then out on bond in February, again entered the same Pic Quik location, violating the no trespass order, this time brandishing a .45 caliber pistol, again demanding money.
Today Vargas plead guilty in both cases receiving a total of 24 years including enhancements for habitual offenses. For the November 2013 case Vargas was convicted of 2nd degree armed robbery. For the February 2014 incident he was convicted of 2nd degree armed robbery and 3rd degree felony tampering with evidence along with a criminal trespassing offense. He will serve a minimum of 9 years as a serious violent offender in the penitentiary followed by 2 years parole and 5 years probation.