Illegal immigrant pleads guilty in burglary, assault of Maryville man
By Wes Wade
Jan 12, 2018
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Jose Saravia-Amaya
Courtesy of the Blount County Sheriff's Office
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Oscar Saravia-Amaya
Courtesy of the Blount County Sheriff's Office
An illegal immigrant who, along with his older brother, broke into a Maryville apartment and assaulted its resident received a three-year prison sentence Wednesday in Blount County Circuit Court.
Jose Ardemour Saravia-Amaya, 27, was arrested alongside his brother, Oscar Saravia-Amaya, 29, after the two men entered a neighbor’s apartment in August, restrained the man and attacked him, police said.
The two brothers, who are both illegal immigrants, were jailed on charges of aggravated burglary and simple assault.
Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said the attack happened around 9 p.m. Aug. 10 when a neighbor of the two men, a 37-year-old man, was trying to discipline his 14-year-old daughter.
Crisp said the man had forbidden his daughter from seeing the two brothers and found out Jose Saravia-Amaya had given her a cellphone so they could remain in contact. Prosecutors said Jose Saravia-Amaya was involved in a relationship with the juvenile girl.
The two brothers apparently heard the man trying to discipline the girl and entered the Wales Avenue apartment without permission. Police said the brothers restrained the girl’s father and punched him in the head numerous times.
The victim had swelling and abrasions on the side of his face, Crisp said, and Oscar Saravia-Amaya had red stains that appeared to be blood on his shirt. The victim declined medical attention.
Jose Saravia-Amaya appeared in Blount County Circuit Court Wednesday alongside a Spanish interpreter and pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, a class C felony. As part of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to three years in prison. He must serve 30 percent before being eligible for parole. The simple assault charge was dismissed.
Blount County Circuit Court Judge Tammy Harrington, ensuring he understood the proceedings, had several questions to ask. That included ensuring he knew he had the right to a jury trial.
According to his interpreter, Jose Saravia-Amaya understood and admitted there was enough proof to convict him of the crime.
Harrington also said he would most likely be deported with a felony conviction on his record.
“You are here illegally, is that correct,” Harrington said.
“Si,” Jose Saravia-Amaya said.
“And, more likely than not, you will be deported based upon your plea to a felony,” Harrington said. “You understand that?”
“Si,” he said.
There was some discussion between the judge, Blount County Assistant District Attorney General Tracy Jenkins and Assistant Public Defender Shawn Graham about whether U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials might take him into custody before he finishes his sentence.
Jenkins said she wasn’t sure. Graham said he thought they might.
Oscar Saravia-Amaya pleaded guilty in September to misdemeanor simple assault. That hearing took place in Blount County General Sessions Court. The aggravated burglary charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to six months in jail, and taken into custody by ICE officials Dec. 27, according to jail and court records.
Jail records regarding ICE detainers on the two men indicated they were originally from El Salvador. ICE officials could not immediately confirm that.
Information on how or when they arrived in the country was also not immediately available.
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