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Soria Jr. heads to prison; Prosecution turns attention toward father

by Gregory Crofton, Tribune staff writer

Two hours after he was sentenced Monday by the judge to life in prison without the possibility of parole, authorities took Thomas Robert Soria Jr. to his new home at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City, Nev.

Soria Jr. admitted that he played a part in the kidnapping and murder of 9-year-old Krystal Steadman, of South Shore, when he pleaded guilty to the crimes as part of a plea bargain.

Since his arrest March 20, Soria Jr. had been locked up at Douglas County Lake Jail in Stateline.



Prosecutors will now focus on Soria Jr.’s father, Thomas Robert Soria Sr. He is charged with the kidnapping, rape and murder of Steadman and the plaintiffs are seeking the death penalty in his case because of additional aggravating circumstances that include torture, sexual abuse and the age of the victim.

Soria Sr. is being held in Douglas County Jail in Minden, Nev.



Jury selection for Soria Sr.’s trial will begin Jan. 17, 2001. Soria Sr. will participate in a second trial later in 2001 for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

Defense attorneys for Soria Sr. filed a motion July 14 to quash the possibility of a death sentence .


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