LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) A 22-year-old southern New Mexico man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for two armed robberies of the same Las Cruces convenience store. Prosecutors say Lucio Vargas pleaded guilty Wednesday to a November holdup of a Pic Quik location and to a February robbery of the same store.
He's originally pleaded guilty in January to the first robbery but the second holdup took place while he was free pending sentencing.
The District Attorney's Office says Vargas will serve at least nine years in prison as a serious violent offender.
