Aug 26, 2008 - 04:06:39 CDT
GRAND FORKS (AP) - Two men have been charged in the shooting deaths of a father and son whose bodies were found on a gravel road seven years ago, Grand Forks County prosecutors say.Authorities say Joseph Moncada and Billy Joe Aguero were arrested and charged Monday with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Robert Belgarde, 40, and his son Damien, 19, who had lived in Grand Forks. The Belgardes were found shot to death on a gravel road southwest of Grand Forks on Sept. 7, 2001.
The Grand Forks County state's attorney's office said Moncada was arrested in Minnesota and Aguero was arrested in Texas. Authorities said they are seeking to return the men to North Dakota.
An autopsy report on the killings found the Belgardes had multiple gunshot wounds from a 9 mm pistol. The report said Damien Belgarde was shot seven times and Robert Belgarde was shot four times. The elder Belgarde also suffered a blow to the forehead, the report said.
Court documents allege Moncada and Aguero shot Robert Belgarde and agreed to "engage in or cause conduct which resulted in Damien Belgarde being shot to death."
Both suspects have criminal charges going back at least six years. Court records show that Moncada has been charged with fleeing, and possession of marijuana and cocaine. Aguero was charged earlier with assault and terrorizing, bail jumping and being a fugitive from justice.
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