THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407070512
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Diego Vega was angry with his 4-year-old daughter Latis for puncturing his waterbed, so he decided to teach her a lesson. He drove her to the woods near the Farmer's Market off Princess Anne Road to have a little talk with her.
As they sat in the car, he turned off the lights and told her there were monsters in the woods. When she didn't seem scared, he told police later, he put her out of the car and drove off.
On Wednesday, Vega, 25, pleaded guilty to felony child abuse. He faces up to five years in the penitentiary when he is sentenced Aug. 10.
Latis was ``extremely frightened,'' police spokesman Lou Thurston said at the time. ``She was very, very scared.''
Police arrested Vega on Jan. 7, after officer Darryl Lazar saw Vega driving with his lights out on a closed portion of Princess Anne Road. Vega told Lazar he was looking for his daughter, who had gotten away from him, prosecutor Janee Joslin said.
Lazar ordered Vega to stay with his car and walked down the dark street calling to the girl. Moments later, she walked out of a small patch of woods.
KEYWORDS: CHILD ABUSE GUILTY PLEA FELONY CHILD ABUSE by CNB