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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 24, 1993                   TAG: 9303240193
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF FARM WORKER

Patrick County authorities arrested a man Tuesday and charged him in connection with the shooting death of a Mexican migrant worker whose body was found in a field Sunday.

Freal Moley Lewis, 54, of Ararat, was charged in the shooting death of Jose Cesareo Mendoza Almanza, 49, whose body was found about 200 yards from Lewis' trailer, Patrick County Sheriff Jay Gregory said.

Gregory said it appeared that Mendoza Almanza was shot in the back "in [Lewis'] trailer or just outside." He probably ran into the field and collapsed.

The sheriff would not elaborate on a possible motive for the killing.

The two men used to work together on tobacco and cattle farms until Mendoza Almanza, who had lived in the area for about five years, moved last July, Gregory said.

Authorities questioned Lewis and searched his trailer Sunday night, finding a nickel-plated .25 caliber pistol in the bathroom that they believe was the weapon used in the shooting, Gregory said. The gun has been sent to a Roanoke laboratory for testing.

Lewis was arrested about noon without incident, Gregory said. He was charged with first-degree murder and using a gun to commit a felony, and was being held in the Patrick County Jail Tuesday night in lieu of $25,000 bond.

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