EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Daniel Villegas, who was wrongfully convicted of a double murder in 2018 after serving 19 years in prison, was arrested on domestic violence charges early Wednesday morning, July 17.
Villegas, 47, is charged with assault, causing bodily injury to a family member following an early morning altercation with a woman in Northeast El Paso.
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According to the arrest affidavit obtained by KTSM, police were dispatched to an apartment near Irvin High School to investigate a domestic assault in progress.
Upon arrival, police met with the alleged victim saying the argument stemmed from Villegas accusing the victim of being unfaithful, according to court documents.
The argument led to Villegas grabbing her by the wrists with both of his hands, causing her to feel pain, according to court documents.
According to court documents, police noted the victim had possible dried blood and scratches on both of her wrists and right forearm. The victim claimed the dried blood was hers.
Villegas was the subject of national attention, including a Dateline episode, after enduring a grave injustice. He was exonerated following 19 years of incarceration for the 1993 murders of Armando “Mando” Lazo and Bobby England. Villegas, who was 16 at the time of the murders, maintained EPPD Detective Alfonso Marquez coerced him into a confession. A jury found him not guilty in a re-trial in October 2018, a verdict that highlighted the grave miscarriage of justice he had suffered.
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He has since sued the City of El Paso, and the lawsuit remains pending in federal court.
Villegas posted a $2,500 bond and was released Wednesday afternoon. The charges are a Class A misdemeanor. He has not yet been assigned an attorney.
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