Gun suspect faces up to life in prison
Man who rented Jupiter home pleads not guilty to multiple charges.
WEST PALM BEACH — The man in whose rented Jupiter home three young people were slain on Super Bowl Sunday could go to prison for life if convicted of three federal drug and weapons charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Charles Vorpagel pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Hopkins. In the U.S. District Court hearing, which lasted only about five minutes, the judge did not set a trial date but gave prosecution and defense lawyers two weeks to file status reports.
Sean P. Henry, 25, of Jupiter, Kelli J. Doherty, 20, of Tequesta, and Brandi El-Salhy, 24, of Gainesville, were found slain just before 11 p.m. Feb. 5, following a party at the Mohawk Street home Vorpagel rented.
Christopher Vasata, 24, of Jupiter, was arrested in March in the slayings and is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Jupiter police have said as many as three other people took part and remain free.
Vorpagel is not directly charged in the slayings. He was arrested Feb. 9 on the federal drugs and weapons charges, and prosecutors filed a formal indictment on June 6.
It contains three counts, listing Feb. 5 as the date of the offenses: being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm “in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.” Read The Post’s complete coverage of the Jupiter triple homicide at
The penalties: prison terms of 20 years, 10 years and 5 years to life; fines of $1 million, $250,000 and $250,000; and supervised release of two years to life.
Vorpagel has told authorities he dealt illegal drugs from the home, on a quiet street in the town’s Indian River Estates neighborhood, and that he worked with another person to buy and sell firearms. Police took boxes of ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia from the home.
Vorpagel — who is being held without bail — was represented by a federal public defender and appeared in handcuffs and ankle shackles, standard procedure for defendants in federal criminal arraignments.
Vorpagel’s father, who actually rented out the home, left the federal courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach without commenting. As he entered his car, he was asked by a reporter about the pace of the proceedings, and said nothing, but instead rolled his eyes.