Defendant facing 35 felony charges in home invasions
By
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Three hours.
Five houses.
Eighteen victims.
One dead father.
Why?
Because three young men doing drugs early one morning in June 2006 got bored.
At least, that's what Michael Kelly, a deputy Pima County attorney, told jurors during opening statements Thursday in the trial of Thomas Michael Hernandez, 20.
Hernandez is facing 35 felony charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in connection with a series of home invasions that took place between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. June 26, 2006.
On Thursday, Kelly described in dramatic terms how he claims Hernandez, Adrian Valenzuela and Andy Gonzales targeted five homes on the South and Southwest sides in the hopes of robbing the occupants of cash, drugs and anything else of value.
As Valenzuela sat in a waiting car, Gonzales and Hernandez successfully busted down doors at three of the five homes and terrorized the occupants with a .357 Magnum while ransacking the homes, Kelly said.
The pair came away with more than $600 cash, a gold medallion, wedding rings, a digital camera and cell phone before taking a break at the apartment of Patrice Jasler, one of the men's girlfriends, Kelly said.


By Kim Smith