By Brian Anderson
Contra Costa Newspapers

Feb. 7, 2003

OAKLAND —An Alameda County prosecutor began working this morning to persuade jurors that a Modesto man convicted earlier this week of killing a deputy sheriff should be executed for the crime.

Deputy district attorney Jon Goodfellow painted Deputy John Paul Monego, 33, of Brentwood, as a beloved family man who was just doing his job when he was killed the night of Dec. 11, 1998.

But Goodfellow also told jurors during his opening statement in the penalty phase that one of three men convicted of gunning Monego down, Reuben Eliceo Vasquez, 27, is a thug who deserves to die.

He characterized Vasquez as a repeat offender, who three days prior to the fatal heist at Dublin's Outback Steakhouse held up a Stockton restaurant. Along with Miguel Galindo Sifuentes, 23, and Hai Minh Le, 24, they stormed Mallard's in Stockton but left empty handed after a manager locked himself in an office.

They were never arrested for that robbery, but Goodfellow said a manager later identified the men as those who tried to steal money from the restaurant.

The trio was convicted Monday of first-degree murder stemming from the Outback robbery. Vazquez was the only defendant who will face a possible death penalty, with jurors to decide whether he will spend the rest of his life in prison or face execution.

Judge Alfred Delucchi said the hearing is expected to take two weeks.