Convictions for pair in Ceres stabbings

Two people have been convicted for their roles in two stabbing attacks that occurred within an hour in Ceres last year.

Randy Scott Salazar on Friday pleaded no contest to robbery in the attack on the first victim. He also pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon in the attack on the second victim. Both charges are considered strikes under the state’s “Three Strikes” law.

He was sentenced to six years in prison. Salazar also pleaded no contest to an unrelated vehicle theft charge and was sentenced to an additional eight months in prison.

Krysta LaFrancis, Salazar’s accomplice, was convicted of attempted robbery, which is considered a strike. She was released to serve probation after completing a one-year jail sentence.

The first attack was reported about 3:10 a.m. on July 3. The 51-year-old man was walking his bike home after getting a flat tire. The two defendants approached him with their pit-bull dog.

Prosecutors said Salazar stabbed him just below his chest. The victim tried to escape, but Salazar and the dog chased him. Salazar continued to assault him and took the victim’s backpack. LaFrancis then took the man’s bike. The victim went to a fire station to get help.

About 20 minutes later, a 21-year-old man was driving and inadvertently hit the pit-bull dog when it ran into the middle of the street. The driver stopped to check on the dog.

Prosecutors said Salazar angrily confronted the driver and tried to hit him several times before stabbing him in his stomach. Both victims were hospitalized, and they recovered from their injuries. The defendants were later apprehended.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 10:17 AM with the headline "Convictions for pair in Ceres stabbings."