The suspect in the slaying of a Frederick, Md., Burger King manager was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for an immigration violation.
Jose Mejia-Varela, 21, was sentenced in federal court in Baltimore Wednesday. He was ordered to serve three years and three months for returning from his 2009 deportation to El Salvador. The deportation stemmed from an attempted-robbery conviction in Frederick County.
In October, Frederick city police obtained a warrant charging Mejia-Varela with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the March 18 shooting of manager Jacinta Ayala at a Burger King where Mejia-Varela previously worked.
Frederick police planned to serve the warrant after the federal court sentencing.
Mejia-Varela pleaded guilty to the immigration violation in August. In that agreement, he agreed not to contest any new deportation proceedings.
Frederick County authorities said they'll request local custody so they can prosecute Mejia-Varela while he serves his federal sentence.
He will be deported after serving the federal time and any state sentence.
Mejia-Varela pleaded guilty to the immigration violation in August.
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