Trio of Murderers Sentenced
Santa Barbara – Early on a Sunday morning in February 2009, 22-year-old Baldemar Leal was found face down on a Westside Santa Barbara sidewalk. He was dead, the victim of multiple stab wounds which were the result of an assault witnessed by area residents who reported at least four individuals attacking Leal.
Victim - Baldemar Leal
Just days later, Santa Barbara Police had six suspects in custody in connection with the murder, including Jonathan Alonzo, David Anthony Martinez, Andrew Balderaz, and Imelda Guevara. Each of those arrested was considered an active member of a local criminal street gang at the time of the attack.
Andrew Balderez
In January 2011, Baldarez’s case was separated from the others’ pursuant to Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Frank Ochoa granting of a competency hearing currently scheduled for December, 2012. In a report to the media, Hilary Dozer, Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney, said “Should Baldarez be found competent, his criminal proceedings will move forward at that time.”
But on August 27th, Baldarez’s three remaining co-defendants entered pleas of no contest to charges of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and conspiracy to commit the assault, with gang enhancement to both charges. Pursuant to those pleas, on September 12th Ochoa handed down a sentence of 11 years in state prison to Guevera, 33, and nine-year terms to Martinez, 24, and Alonzo, 24.
Read more:
Santa Barbara Independent: Murder Suspects Move to Separate Cases
Noozhawk: Suspect in 2009 Fatal Stabbing in Santa Barbara Will Face Competency Trial
Santa Barbara Independent: Three People Sentenced in 2009 Murder Case
