Man Sentenced for Attempted Fetal Homicide

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A man convicted of spiking his girlfriend's beverages with an herb to try to induce an abortion has been sentenced to serve five years in prison.

A Rapid City jury in September convicted 36-year-old Alfredo Vargas of attempted fetal homicide in the 2010 case. Judge Janine Kern said during Monday's sentencing that Vargas showed no remorse for his actions, and she sentenced him to 10 years in prison with half of the time suspended.

Defense attorney Jamy Patterson says Vargas will appeal.

Prosecutor Scott Roetzel asked Kern to order Vargas to pay nearly $15,000 for expert witnesses and the cost of extraditing him from Puerto Rico. A hearing is scheduled Thursday.

Vargas' former girlfriend gave birth to a healthy baby boy in October 2010.

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