Paulding County District Attorney Robert S. Lane pushed back Friday against fast-spreading social media claims that his office had cut loose a man convicted in a 2023 homicide, calling the posts flat-out wrong. Oscar Ubaldo Vega-Aguirre, who pleaded guilty in the case, remains in state custody and is expected to be transferred to federal authorities for removal after his sentence is complete. Lane emphasized that the sentence was imposed by a judge following a plea hearing and that his office did not release the defendant.
Sentence, Custody and Deportation Details
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Vega-Aguirre pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On July 1, 2025, a judge sentenced him to 20 years for manslaughter plus a consecutive five years of probation on the weapons charge. Court records show he must serve nine years behind bars before probation begins. He is currently listed at Dodge State Prison and, because he has an active ICE detainer and a removal order, he will be turned over to federal custody for deportation once his state term is finished.
How the Shooting Unfolded
The case traces back to an Oct. 14, 2023 meetup to buy a dirt bike at 317 Shenandoah Drive in Hiram, where the seller, 41-year-old Joshua Alan Swink, was shot and killed, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said in an October 2023 press release. Deputies said Vega-Aguirre ran off on foot, then tried to leave the area in a rideshare before being stopped and taken into custody. He was initially charged with felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault, and his arrest was reported by local outlets including Atlanta News First.
DA's Statement and Misinformation
Lane said he issued his statement to knock down “recent public statements” suggesting his office had released Vega-Aguirre. “Our responsibility is to follow the law, present the facts, and ensure that every case is handled with integrity,” Lane said in a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta. He stressed that the punishment was handed down by the court after a non-negotiated plea, not through any backdoor deal from prosecutors.
Local Fallout and What to Watch
Officials say the episode is a textbook example of how quickly bad information can race through social feeds and muddy the public’s understanding of criminal cases. For now, court and incarceration records show Vega-Aguirre remains in the state corrections system, that deportation proceedings are set to follow his state term, and that post-release conditions, including a bar order and monthly probation fees, will govern his supervision if and when he is back under community monitoring.
