Trial begins for last person in murder case in Peñasco

TAOS — The last of five defendants charged in a Thanksgiving Day 2020 slaying in Peñasco is on trial this week in Taos.

Precious Aguilar is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder that resulted in death, kidnapping, harboring and aiding a felon, aggravated battery and two charges of tampering with evidence in the death of Leroy “Damasio” Fresquez.

According to court records, Fresquez was stabbed to death and possibly shot while riding in a vehicle toward Vadito with Aguilar and three of her four co-defendants: Ezekiel Martinez, Ronnie Tafoya and Aguilar’s mother, Juanita Romero.

Aguilar’s father, Steven Aguilar, was charged with conspiracy and bribery of a witness in connection with Fresquez’s death.

During opening arguments Monday morning, defense attorney Michael Rosenfield asserted there was minimal evidence linking Aguilar to the crime, and she had merely been present at the time of Fresquez’s death.

Tafoya, who agreed to testify as part of a plea agreement, told the jury Aguilar did not take part in Fresquez’s killing but was involved in discussions that seemed to indicate the group intended to kill Fresquez.

The group was packed into Martinez’s car Nov. 26, 2020, with Fresquez in the passenger seat and Aguilar on his lap, Tafoya testified. He said he was unsure where they were going. Eventually, Fresquez brandished a knife, and Romero asked him to give it to her. When he handed her the knife, she hid it under her leg, Tafoya said, adding she began stabbing Fresquez with it soon after.

Fresquez wrestled the blade from her, Tafoya said, and then Romero unsheathed a kitchen knife and continued to attack him.

Meanwhile, Martinez stopped the car and

pointed a firearm at Fresquez, Tafoya said.

Fresquez ran into the woods, and Martinez and Romero chased him, according to Tafoya’s testimony.

Aguilar and Tafoya walked away, apparently shocked by the scene.

Romero was acquitted in September.

Steven Aguilar’s trial in December ended with a hung jury. Martinez took a plea deal that included an agreement he would testify in the other defendants’ cases but was found dead of a suspected overdose in the Taos County jail last year.