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‘It Was Just a Prank,’ Couple Arrested After Allegedly Setting Homeless Man on Fire
WTKR ^ | JULY 25, 2015

Posted on 07/25/2015 10:41:21 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A couple has been arrested after allegedly setting a homeless man on fire with fireworks earlier this month.

On July 11, authorities say a homeless man was sleeping along the side of a road when he was set on fire by fireworks, which were thrown from an SUV.

Now, police have arrested 31-year-old Joshua Benavidez and 31-year-old Irene Enriquez for aggravated battery with great bodily harm, tampering with evidence, child abuse and conspiracy.

The pair told KOB that they were trying to startle the man, and did not know that he had been burned until their arrest.

“It was just a prank, it was just trying to scare him, that was it,” said Benavidez.

However, arrest warrants in the case tell a different story.

After surveillance video was released of the crime, authorities received multiple tips about Benavidez’s purple SUV.

However, police allege that Benavidez painted his SUV white after the alleged crime.

At the time, Benavidez denied having any involvement in the crime.

They have now been charged with child abuse because investigators learned their children were with them during the alleged attack.

One boy told investigators that his parents threw the firework onto the sleeping homeless man.

The arrest warrant alleges that they saw the man’s pants were smoldering as they began to drive away.

They told investigators that Enriquez tried to put water on the man, who was on fire and unconscious.

The arrest warrant alleges that Benavidez would not let her, and fled the scene.

The victim is still in the intensive care unit at a New Mexico hospital.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: newmexico; sick
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1 posted on 07/25/2015 10:41:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Prank ‘em back with 20 years in jail.


2 posted on 07/25/2015 10:47:44 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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3 posted on 07/25/2015 10:49:53 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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To: nickcarraway

What horrible people. No doubt libtards who always want the government to provide stuff to them and yet prey upon the totally weak and harmless.


4 posted on 07/25/2015 10:51:18 PM PDT by angry elephant (Endangered species in Seattle)
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To: nickcarraway

There’s a special place in hell for people like this.


5 posted on 07/25/2015 10:56:19 PM PDT by rikkir (Anyone still believe the 8/08 Atlantic cover wasn't 100% accurate?)
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To: nickcarraway

I always thought that pranks are what you play on your friends not strangers ..... this does not pass the smell test to me. why would anyone harass someone so far down and out......this was a guy that needed help possibly not to be harassed.


6 posted on 07/25/2015 10:58:39 PM PDT by PCPOET7 (VORS)
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To: SaveFerris

20?


7 posted on 07/25/2015 10:59:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

yes


8 posted on 07/25/2015 11:02:51 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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To: angry elephant

Nope. Clearly TEA Party members and Cruz/Trump supporters. /MSM /sarc


9 posted on 07/25/2015 11:15:32 PM PDT by piytar (Good will be called evil and Evil will be called good.)
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To: angry elephant

I’m telling you folks, liberals need to be caged for the safety of human beings.


10 posted on 07/25/2015 11:33:32 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: SaveFerris
Prank ‘em back with 20 years in jail.

Burns requiring intensive care will result in severe pain for the rest of the victim's life.

20 years is just not enough. I would vote for 50, on the criminal charges. And every cent they have to be awarded as civil damages...

11 posted on 07/25/2015 11:37:47 PM PDT by CurlyDave
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To: nickcarraway

Southington teen sentenced to 7 years in prison in fireworks death

http://foxct.com/2015/07/23/eric-morelli-to-be-sentenced-today-after-pleading-guilty-to-manslaughter/

I heard it was a *sparkler* that he threw....thought it was *funny prank* at the time.


12 posted on 07/25/2015 11:38:25 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We Are Not Descended From Fearful Men")
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To: CurlyDave

Yeah, it’s quite horrible.


13 posted on 07/25/2015 11:40:13 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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To: nickcarraway
They have now been charged with child abuse because investigators learned their children were with them during the alleged attack.

This part sounds like BS, to be honest.

14 posted on 07/25/2015 11:53:02 PM PDT by ScottWalkerForPresident2016
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To: SaveFerris

Portrait of The Biggest Losers.


15 posted on 07/25/2015 11:55:38 PM PDT by lee martell (The sag)
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To: SaveFerris

Just a couple more Hispanics doing jobs Americans won’t do.

Would ask about their ‘status’ but ......

The dude looks like one of them thar ‘White Hispanics’.


16 posted on 07/26/2015 12:00:57 AM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98)"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office ~Aesop~")
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To: nickcarraway

“alleges/alleged” needs to be in this article more :o)


17 posted on 07/26/2015 12:04:41 AM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: SaveFerris

Rob Ford went on a road trip? Looks like it.


18 posted on 07/26/2015 12:14:15 AM PDT by AmericanCheeseFood
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To: ScottWalkerForPresident2016

Why does it sound like BS? The kids witnessed the incident and one even confirmed what happened.


19 posted on 07/26/2015 12:16:03 AM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
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To: nickcarraway

The part that’s not in here is that when they appeared for their bond hearing the woman asked the judge to let her leave jail on Friday for a doctor’s appointment. She’s pregnant. The judge refused.


20 posted on 07/26/2015 12:17:57 AM PDT by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
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