Man gets prison time for assault at rural Willmar home

WILLMAR -- Lazario Domingo Diaz, 30, of Willmar, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison on a felony charge of third-degree assault for his role in beating a man at a rural Willmar residence.

Diaz was given credit for 196 days already served in jail and was ordered to pay a $50 fine as part of his sentence in Kandiyohi County District Court.

As part of a plea agreement, another felony charge for escape from custody and a misdemeanor for fleeing an officer on foot were dismissed. Diaz and Francisco R. Vallejo, 38, of Willmar, were both charged with third-degree assault after the incident. Vallejo's next appearance is Monday, with a jury trial set for Jan. 18.

According to the complaint, Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputies were called around 1:20 a.m. June 29, 2010, to a home northwest of Willmar.

A man, who was bleeding heavily from his face, said he was assaulted by several men at a home across the street. The man said he managed to get away from the men and ask a neighbor to call for help.

The man said that he had received a ride to the rural residence earlier in the evening from Vallejo and that Vallejo and a man identified as "Chattle" had beaten him. Chattle is a known nickname for Diaz.

A deputy questioned Vallejo, who had blood on his hand. He claimed the blood was from a mosquito bite and denied anything about a fight or even knowing the alleged victim.

While deputies were questioning another man, they heard rustling in a nearby brushline. The man claimed it was coyotes. Then a man, identified as Diaz, got up from the brush and ran away. He was caught by an officer, handcuffed and told to sit down on a step. He again attempted to run away. The officer later secured Diaz in his squad car.

The alleged victim was interviewed at the hospital and said that he had known Vallejo for about 25 years and that they had drank beers around a bonfire.

He was leaving when Vallejo, Diaz and other men hit him, knocked him to the ground and punched and kicked him.

The man's lip was cut, and he required stitches to close the wound.