Byron Vargas Bautista sentenced to 360 months for second-degree murder, first-degree assault

Byron Vinicio Vargas Bautista, 39, was sentenced to 360 months after pleading guilty on April 11, 2025, in two separate cases.

Mr. Vargas Bautista pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder for the death of Felisha Smith in July 2024. Ms. Smith was a vulnerable adult and Mr. Smith assaulted her and killed her on the same day that they met.

Mr. Vargas Bautista also pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, great bodily harm, stemming from an incident in September 2024 when a dispute turned violent and Mr. Vargas Bautista punched and kicked a different victim, causing bleeding in her brain.

“My thoughts are with everyone affected by Mr. Vargas Bautista’s violent, cruel actions, especially Felisha’s loved ones,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Vulnerable adults should be safe in our communities and our office will always work to protect them and hold those who harm them accountable.”

Mr. Vargas Bautista was taken into custody on Sep. 19, 2024, and charged in the murder case on Sep. 20. Mr. Vargas Bautista remained in custody and was charged with first-degree assault on Dec. 10.

In accordance with the terms of the plea, Mr. Vargas Bautista agreed to an upward durational departure and received a 257-month sentence for the second-degree murder, a 77-month increase over the presumptive sentence.

He received a 103-month sentence for the first-degree assault, running consecutively to his second-degree murder sentence for a total of 360 months.

Mr. Vargas Bautista has 237 days of credit for time already served.

Case Numbers: 27-CR-24-21548 and 27-CR-24-28324.

Additional information:

The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines determine the presumptive sentence for felony offenses. The presumptive sentence is reached by comparing the severity level of the offense with the defendant’s criminal history score. In this instance, the presumptive sentence for Mr. Vargas Bautista for the second-degree murder was 180 months.

A sentence may depart from the sentencing guidelines if the court finds it appropriate.

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