Man gets 10 years in attack with gun

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 12, 2009

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DADE CITY --

A Crystal Springs man pleaded no contest to attempted murder Thursday and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Orlando Vega-Rivera, 25, of 1623 Patridge Blvd., admitted to the Dec. 10 beating of 38-year-old Dwayne Ashmore. Ashmore was camping alone on Deems Road property owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District when Vega-Rivera confronted him with a shotgun and demanded money. Another man was with Vega-Rivera.

Vega-Rivera then repeatedly hit Ashmore in the face and head with the butt of the shotgun. When the butt broke, he continued hitting Ashmore with the barrel of the gun, authorities said. The other man beat Ashmore with a tire iron.

The men then set fire to Ashmore's tent and broke a window on his car, which was parked nearby. Ashmore told investigators he needed surgery to repair a broken hand and staples to close head wounds.

The man who was with Vega-Rivera has not been arrested.

Todd Leskanic