Prosecutors used video surveillance footage of the motel to prove that no one but the suspect and the victim entered or exited the room where the victim’s body was found. The pair checked into the motel on July 27, 2017. A housekeeper found the victim on July 30. The medical examiner determined that she died of blunt force trauma to the head and neck.
Authorities in Humboldt County arrested the suspect in August, and he remained jailed. Prosecutors in Ventura County charged the man with homicide and four special allegations involving prior felonies. While in the Ventura County Jail, the man also assaulted another inmate there. He pleaded guilty to the assault charge as well.
He will return to court on May 25, 2018 for sentencing. As part of the plea agreement, he will receive a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Port Hueneme Murder Attorney
When you face homicide charges in California, your life is literally on the line. Although California has not executed an inmate in more than a decade, the death penalty is still very much alive and well here. Nearly 800 inmates now sit on Death Row, and most death sentences come from Southern California courts.
When you face homicide charges, hire an experienced murder attorney like Robert Helfend. Mr. Helfend has nearly 35 years of experience in criminal courtroom defense. He will fight aggressively to get the charges against you reduced or dropped.
In California, felony convictions accumulate. Ultimately, they will result in a life sentence. Don’t risk spending the rest of your life in prison. Work with an experienced aggressive attorney who will fight for you.
Contact Robert Helfend or call toll-free at (800) 834-6434, (805) 273-5611, (310) 456-3317 or (818) 591-2809 for an immediate consultation on your Ventura County murder case.
Photo Credit: Curtis Perry, via Flickr.com