Austin man sentenced to prison time on felony burglary and violating no-contact order charges in Mower County District Court

An Austin man facing felony burglary and violating a no-contact order charges, plus a misdemeanor domestic abuse no-contact order charge stemming from incidents that occurred in Austin in April of 2021, and in February and July of 2023 has been sentenced to prison time.

In an amended court decision Wednesday, 51-year old Joel Vargas was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a felony 3rd degree burglary charge stemming from an incident that occurred in Austin on April 13th, 2021. Vargas first pleaded guilty to the charge on August 1st, 2022, and he was convicted on March 17th of this year.  Vargas was also convicted and sentenced to 80 days in jail for a misdemeanor charge for violating a domestic abuse, no-contact order stemming from the same incident.  Vargas pleaded guilty to the charge on August 1st, 2022, and he was convicted and sentenced on the charge on March 17th.  Vargas was given credit for 54 days already served, and a felony charge for 1st degree criminal damage to property, value reduced over $1,000 in the case against Vargas was dismissed with his guilty pleas.

Vargas was also sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison for a felony charge of violating a no-contact order within 10 years of the first of two or more convictions stemming from an incident that took place in Austin on July 26th of this year.  Vargas was convicted on the charge on October 20th after pleading guilty the same day, and in an amended court decision Wednesday, Vargas was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a misdemeanor charge of violating a domestic abuse no-contact order stemming from an incident that occurred in Austin on February 18th of this year.  Vargas was convicted on the charge on March 17th after pleading guilty the same day,  and he was given credit for 90 days already served.

Judge Natalie Martinez determined that Vargas will be allowed to serve the two prison sentences concurrently.