Alleged Chevy Chase killer backs out of murder plea

WASHINGTON - One of the two suspects arrested for the murders of a Chevy Chase couple made a last-minute decision to back out of a plea deal where he would have pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder while armed.

After extensive questioning from D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael Rankin, Piero Fuentes Hernandez of Capitol Heights backed out of the plea agreement he signed. He told the judge he wanted to "go for the trial" rather than agree to the deal.

In the hearing, Fuentes Hernandez admitted he played a role in the November killings of Michael and Virginia Spevak in their home on Belt Road, Northwest. Michael, 68, was a prominent psychiatrist and Virginia, 67, a former school teacher.

Fuentes Hernandez spoke quietly as he answered the judge's questions. With his head bowed through much of the hearing, Fuentes Hernandez said he was feeling "not good" when asked by the judge.

Fuentes Hernandez initially had been charged with felony murder and told the judge he intended to plead guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

In reading details of evidence that would be presented at trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Sines told the judge Fuentes Hernandez beat both Spevaks with a metal collapsible baton, similar to what police use. An unidentified suspect used a knife on the couple.

Sines told the judge one of the suspects said the decision to kill the couple came after the Spevaks recognized him.

A second person arrested for the murder, Angela Hernandez, who is not related to Fuentes Hernandez, was not present in the courtroom. In charging documents, she allegedly told police she was waiting in a car during the murder.

She allegedly told police she was a friend of the Spevak's daughter, and had spent time in the home.

A third suspect, a male, has not been identified.

Had Fuentes Hernandez accepted the plea, he would have faced 10 to 80 years in prison.

Outside the courtroom, Sines didn't offer an explanation of how the plea deal broke down.

"He has an absolute right to go to trial," Sines said.

Fuentes Hernandez's attorney Arthur Ago declined comment on why his client opted for trial.

Both Fuentes Hernandez and Angela Hernandez are due to appear in court Friday for a pretrial hearing.

Prosecutors said they "have no idea" whether Fuentes Hernandez will enter a guilty plea at that time.

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