Chavez was arrested early the next day at his mother’s house on South 10th Street after police observed him entering the residence located across the street from the police station.Lobbying from the Santa Paula Police Department caused the District Attorney’s Office to rethink and upgrade the charge - assault with a deadly weapon - they initially were going to file against Chavez. Charges of attempted murder with great bodily injury - Rodriguez’s paralysis - instead were filed against Chavez.Rodriguez remained a patient at Ventura County Medical Center for almost two months; for a month of his hospital stay he was listed as in critical condition.On May 29, Chavez was sentenced in a Superior Court to 24 years in a state prison for the assault with a deadly weapon and mayhem causing paralysis. “Chavez must serve 80% of the sentence in state prison,” noted Commander Hanson.
Stabber in unprovoked attack that left victim paralyzed sentenced
June 24, 2002
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula man who stabbed a teenager in the neck during an unprovoked attack in February 2001 has been sentenced to a long prison sentence, according to a Santa Paula Police Department official.
After lobbying by the SPPD, a charge of attempted murder with great bodily injury was filed against the Santa Paula gang member, Ruben Chavez, now 23, who used a screwdriver to stab 18-year-old Roberto Rodriguez in the neck on February 28, 2001, said SPPD Commander Mark Hanson.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Santa Paula man who stabbed a teenager in the neck during an unprovoked attack in February 2001 has been sentenced to a long prison sentence, according to a Santa Paula Police Department official.After lobbying by the SPPD, a charge of attempted murder with great bodily injury was filed against the Santa Paula gang member, Ruben Chavez, now 23, who used a screwdriver to stab 18-year-old Roberto Rodriguez in the neck on February 28, 2001, said SPPD Commander Mark Hanson.Rodriguez was stabbed once in the base of the skull below the left ear and was left with complete paralysis in both legs and one arm, and partial paralysis in the other arm due to spinal cord damage from the single wound. He is still undergoing therapy.Rodriguez had been involved in a fight in the 300 block of South Palm Avenue at about 10:45 p.m. when he was stabbed. Chavez dropped the screwdriver and fled the scene, but a citizen flagged down a Santa Paula Police officer and led him to Rodriguez, who is not a gang member. Witnesses told investigators that Chavez had not been involved in the fight between Rodriguez and another man, but had rushed in and stabbed him.
