Machete attack gets South Jersey man 20 years

Found guilty of attempted murder in a 2012 machete attack, a South Jersey man was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison.

Eugenio Morales, 44, of Vineland, had also been found guilty of attacking two Buena Borough police officers with a box cutter. During the confrontation, the officers shot Morales in self-defense, said Jennifer Webb-McRae, the Cumberland County Prosecutor.

Prior to handing down the sentence, Judge Cristin P. D'Arrigo described Morales' crimes as a "heinous act of terror" which was "brazenly committed in full public view." On Aug. 15, 2012, Morales hacked the 41-year-old victim, Elba Sanchez, in the head, face, arms and hands with the machete, leaving her with life-threatening injuries. Two days later, while attempting to elude capture, he attacked the police officers, Webb-McRae said.