Murder/Arson Trial Scheduled For May

Orange City, Iowa — The trial for a man accused of murdering his grandfather in Rock Valley and then setting a fire — has been continued.

According to authorities, on or about Sunday, October 29th, 19-year-old Santos Rodriguez, Jr. allegedly killed his grandfather, 84-year old Luis Luevanos at his grandfather’s home; set fire to the home; and then left for Utah.

Agents from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation traveled to Utah and interviewed Rodriguez. Officials say he admitted to stabbing his grandfather and intentionally setting the fire afterward.

Rodriguez filed a plea of “not guilty” to the charges of First Degree Murder (a class A felony) and First Degree Arson (a class B Felony) in Sioux County District Court.

According to court documents, a jury trial in the case has now been scheduled for Tuesday, May 1st, 2018.

If convicted of a class A felony, Iowa code states that Rodriguez would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. If convicted of a class B felony, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

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