NYC man sentenced to 5 years for stabbing in bar fight after girlfriend interacted with reality star.
A New York City man who is poised to appear in an upcoming Netflix docuseries has been sentenced to five years in prison following a violent altercation in a Colorado bar. Carlos Vega Jr., aged 42, was convicted in September for the stabbing of Jordan Hyder during a confrontation that ensued after Vega’s girlfriend unexpectedly licked the face of Jessica Edwards, a former contestant on the reality television show “The Bachelor.”
The incident took place on July 11, 2021, in Lone Tree, a suburb southeast of Denver. According to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, the unusual act by Vega’s girlfriend sparked a confrontation between Hyder and Vega. After a heated exchange of words, Hyder punched Vega, who then retaliated by producing a knife and stabbing Hyder in the hand, leaving him injured.
At the time of the stabbing, Vega was recently released from prison, having served time for a manslaughter conviction in New York. He had previously pleaded guilty in 2016 to the killing of Robert Gaston, which occurred in a Bronx bodega in 2007. This pattern of violent behavior prompted prosecutors to express concern about Vega’s lack of remorse and understanding of the consequences of his actions.
The senior deputy prosecutor, Nate Marsh, emphasized that Vega’s prior prison sentence failed to dissuade him from engaging in further violence. The case has drawn public attention not just for its violent nature but also due to its connection to the realm of reality television. Edwards, who gained fame as a contestant on season 28 of “The Bachelor,” was engaged to Spencer Conley after winning season 10 of “Bachelor in Paradise.”
Vega’s upcoming appearance in the Netflix docuseries titled “Homicide: New York” has raised eyebrows as well. Producers of the series submitted documents to the court seeking leniency during his sentencing, highlighting Vega’s troubled past, including the traumatic murder of his mother when he was just six years old. That case involved Matias Reyes, a notorious criminal also identified for his role in an infamous 1990 Central Park crime that led to wrongful convictions.
The violent incident, coupled with Vega’s checkered history, underscores the complexities of criminal behavior and its intersections with popular culture, revealing how personal narratives can entwine with public notoriety in unexpected ways. As Vega begins his prison term, he will have several years to reflect on the repercussions of his actions both in and out of the spotlight.
