|
First steps in gang murder case
-
imgDeputy Public Defender Jess Raphael, right, is seen with his client, Danny Ortega, on Wednesday afternoon. Ortega, who is charged with murder with gang enhancements, was arraigned, along with two other defendants, in the gang-related homicide of Ricardo Gonzalez. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos -
imgRaymond Almodobar appears at his arraignment on Wednesday afternoon for the homicide of Ricardo Gonzalez. Four men are charged in the gang-related death of Gonzalez. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos -
imgChristian Gallegos, was one of three men arraigned on Wednesday afternoon, in the December 2007 homicide of Ricardo Gonzalez. Gallegos, Danny Ortega and Raymond Almodobar, all of Napa, were in court on Wednesday. A fourth suspect, Stephen Barrios, is currently serving a two-year-term for vandalism. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos
Three men in court Wednesday for roles in death of Gonzalez
Share
Email
Print
CommentNovember 26th, 2008
October 30th, 2008
October 29th, 2008
October 28th, 2008
October 16th, 2008
October 11th, 2008
October 9th, 2008
October 8th, 2008
November 26th, 2008
November 7th, 2008
November 2nd, 2008
October 30th, 2008
October 29th, 2008
October 28th, 2008
October 23rd, 2008
October 16th, 2008
Three young men charged with the gang-related murder of 19-year-old Ricardo Gonzalez made their first court appearance Wednesday and will return later this month to enter a plea.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer on Wednesday granted defense attorneys’ requests for more time for the defendants to review the case.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer on Wednesday granted defense attorneys’ requests for more time for the defendants to review the case.
Raymond Almodobar, 18, Christian Gallegos, 18, and Daniel Ortega, 19, all of whom appeared briefly in court Wednesday, are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 29. The men, who were arrested face life in prison for murder for the December shooting of Gonzalez in west Napa.
A fourth man charged in the case, Stephen Barrios, 19, is serving a two-year term for vandalism at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, according to the state Department of Corrections. Barrios, who was also arrested Tuesday, will be transferred to Napa County, said Napa County Deputy District Attorney John Goold. Barrios’ arraignment is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m.
A fourth man charged in the case, Stephen Barrios, 19, is serving a two-year term for vandalism at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, according to the state Department of Corrections. Barrios, who was also arrested Tuesday, will be transferred to Napa County, said Napa County Deputy District Attorney John Goold. Barrios’ arraignment is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Kroyer on Wednesday reaffirmed the $5 million bail for Ortega and the $3 million bail for Almodobar and Gallegos. All three are in Napa County Jail. He also assigned public defenders Mark Henderson and Jess Raphael to Almodobar and Ortega, respectively, after the two teens said they could not afford an attorney.
Napa criminal attorney Douglas Pharr told Kroyer he will represent Gallegos.
Napa criminal attorney Douglas Pharr told Kroyer he will represent Gallegos.
Napa County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold represented the prosecution.
According to the complaint in that case, Almodobar faces charges of possession of a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property with gang enhancements as well as driving with without a valid driver’s license.
Henderson told the judge he needs to make sure he does not have a conflict in representing Almodobar. After the hearing, Henderson said he is “99 percent” sure he will be able to represent the teen.
Gonzalez died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after he was shot in the head on Laurel Street on Dec. 8.
On the day of the murder, Gonzalez skipped attending a quinceañera celebration at the last minute, according to his mother, Rosa Vargas. That evening, Vargas said, a group of gang members came to her house and Gonzalez left with them.
In December 2007, Napa Police arrested three male teens in connection with the shooting. The charges against the teens were dropped, Goold said.
Goold on Wednesday did not rule out more arrests in the 10-month old case.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
According to the complaint in that case, Almodobar faces charges of possession of a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property with gang enhancements as well as driving with without a valid driver’s license.
Henderson told the judge he needs to make sure he does not have a conflict in representing Almodobar. After the hearing, Henderson said he is “99 percent” sure he will be able to represent the teen.
Gonzalez died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after he was shot in the head on Laurel Street on Dec. 8.
On the day of the murder, Gonzalez skipped attending a quinceañera celebration at the last minute, according to his mother, Rosa Vargas. That evening, Vargas said, a group of gang members came to her house and Gonzalez left with them.
In December 2007, Napa Police arrested three male teens in connection with the shooting. The charges against the teens were dropped, Goold said.
Goold on Wednesday did not rule out more arrests in the 10-month old case.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
Join the conversation
Comment guidelines
All comments will be screened and may take several hours to be posted.
• Keep comments clear, concise and focused on the topic in the story.
• Comments exceeding 300 words will not be posted.
• Refrain from personal attacks, degrading comments or remarks that do not add to a constructive dialogue.
• Comments implying suspects in crime-related stories are guilty before they have been proven so in a court of law will be deleted.
• Do not post e-mail addresses or links except for pages on Napavalleyregister.com or government Web sites.
• Comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined.
• Comments may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
• If you feel a posted comment has violated our guidelines, please contact dross@napanews.com or bkennedy@napanews.com
For further information on the comment guidelines, click here.
|
|
49er wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:56 AM:
!LiVe!LaUgH!LuV! wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:17 AM:
asahigo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:29 AM:
" Innocent till proven guilty who knows who did what"
Yes always innocent until proven guilty. As for how knows who did what, you better believe at least 2 people know what happened, but one of them isn't around to tell us. Danny may be a good person, or may be a complete dolt, either way if he stays affiliated with (note I use affiliated with and not "in") gangs he will most likely wind up in prison or dead. Gang bangers are not cool. "
sammy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:45 AM:
It just goes to show that what our parents said all along growing up, choose your friends wisely, birds of a feather flock together..... and I was told I would be judged harshly by whom I associated with.
Best of luck to your friend. "
norcalgirl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:46 AM:
steph wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:53 AM:
Way to go, supporting a gang member. He's not innocent if he was there for the fight. He and you are part of the larger problem.
Stop excusing this behavior and maybe fewer people will die, live dangerous lives, use public monies that could be spent helping people, clog up jails, etc. "
mymy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:06 AM:
Its gonna take some time for the police to realize that Danny wasn't apart of this he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sooner or later he will be released. No worries.
We love you! Hang in there. "
Brea wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:53 AM:
napa_girl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:53 AM:
caliboy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:06 AM:
49er wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:23 AM:
YOU DON'T KNOW DANNY, SO U CAN'T JUDGE HIM, JUS BECAUSE HE IS A GANG MEMBER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE IS GUILTY OF THIS CRIME. HE IS INNOCENT AND SOON THEY WILL PROVE THAT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EVIDENCE THEY HAVE ON THESE BOY'S CAUSE WHEN MY COUSIN WAS ARRESTED THEY HAD EVIDENCE, WELL THAT'S WUT THEY SAID AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY HAD NOTHING AND THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. THIS IS STUPID AND DANNY HANG IN THERE WE ALL LUV YA, U WILL BE OUT SOON! TO NAPA-GIRL, JUS BECAUSE UR A GANG MEMBER DOES NOT MEAN THAT UR A BAD PERSON, YEAH MAYBE SOMETIMES THEY DON'T MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS ALL THE TIME, BUT THESE BOY'S R NOT BAD PEOPLE. IM SURE A FEW PEOPLE DO REALLY KNOW WUT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT BUT IF UR GOING TO ARREST PEOPLE FOR MURDER CAUSE THEY WERE THERE THEN THEY NEED TO BRING ALL 50 PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE THAT NIGHT INCLUDING RICARDO'S FRIENDS......FREE DANNY!!!!! "
norcalgirl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:24 AM:
norcalgirl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:27 AM:
napa.mom wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:36 AM:
NVR Moderator wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:01 PM:
Those comments are being deleted from here out for purposes of style and the implied online message of yelling. Please, the messages are a solid part of the online community discussion, but no all caps or the comment goes away. "
steph wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:09 PM:
I think they are valuable comments, and while I object to their style, I also object to the style of alternating caps/lowercase letters interspersed with numbers in the place of letters, etc. But this may represent an evolution in language, and is a preferred communication from younger people or people naive yet to forums. Perhaps you could put a suggestion in the comment guidelines to avoid all-caps comments, but please please please do not delete them.
This story will draw comments from younger folks who deserve to be heard. We grownups can agree to not allow ourselves to be offended, right? I would not put this gaffe on a par with racism or threats or personal attacks. It's just annoying, but not personal.
Thanks for listening to my opinion. "
steph wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:16 PM:
Gang-banging is destructive to my community, takes up many, many resources (from taxpayers with honest jobs) that could be put to better use, clogs up our courts and jails, puts innocent people at risk of bodily injury or death, leads to children being raised without fathers, and on and on.
Being in a gang is NOT ACCEPTABLE! If you are in a gang, you are part of the problem, not part of the solution, and the good people of Napa don't have to dismiss or condone your or your cousin's behavior, no matter who pulled the trigger or who encouraged it or ignored it or covered it up.
Sorry, but in your world this sort of thing may be ok, but there is a big world of people trying to make an honest living and we don't like the gangs.
Its your choice to make a difference, to get out and join civilized society, or to cry about another death or jail sentence. I wish it wasn't your choice to inflict this lifestyle on an innocent child born into such a family, but the world hasn't figured out yet how to mandate responsible parenting. "
707jng wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:51 PM:
JustMy$.02 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:09 PM:
Yes, you belong to a gang your a bad person because nothing good ever comes from associating with a criminal element, NOTHING! "
napa_girl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:15 PM:
~Para Siempre~ wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:58 PM:
7nor7cal wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:59 PM:
FREE RAY DANNY N CHRIS. or lock da rest of da other ppl up for being there like they were not shooting, and y arnt richardos friends getting gang related charges. no good job NPD "
7nor7cal wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:04 PM:
FREE RAY DANNY N CHRIS. or lock da rest of da other ppl up for being there as well. and y arnt richardos friends getting gang related charges. no good job NPD. come on "
lulu-m wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:49 PM:
wats up with ricardos friends why is it that the NPD havent arrested them....they were there too....the NPD aint doing a good job! "
lulu-m wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:52 PM:
"INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY....! "
Mike Staleeny wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:59 PM:
napa_girl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 4:52 PM:
D_VALLEYBOY wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:00 PM:
!LiVe!LaUgH!LuV! wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:10 PM:
luv2surf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:32 PM:
sammy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:40 PM:
I have to say to the friends of those that were arrested, and as well to the friends of the diseased,.... that I welcome you to post here and if you could give any heads up on how we as a community could help you with a hand up.... to help you be who you want to really be in your life, then please use this forum to speak out. I don't like what gangs do,.... the violence and unlawfulness, but I have such a heart for ya'll that I would like to know what I could do to help make a difference. We all want to have safe streets, neighborhoods, and I know you do as well. I would truly encourage you to speak up here , Thanks for sharing your feelings, opinions and all,...... I welcome you. "
Free_ray wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:42 PM:
x2dab wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:06 PM:
I am verry against gang related things and people, but I just wanted to throw a fact out there. Gangs are the reason there are after school centers.
I don't want to be seen as a conspearacy (bad speller) leader or anything like that, but i want to know why random pairs of three are being arrested. it seems to me that the police are getting a name and just going after them. Also why aren't names of the victum coming up more names can paint a bigger picture for what actually happened, people need to speak up so the innocent can be free and the guilty be punished. "
raininnapa wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:40 PM:
R.I.P RICARDO GONZALEZ
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED "
E_NapaFamMember wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:29 AM:
E_NapaFamMember wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:01 AM:
piece of mind wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:04 AM:
WatchDoggie wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:23 AM:
As for this case, all must remember that they don't know all the facts. Period. Criminal trials are always open to the public. Even the media cannot and does not report the entire trial, nor the believability of witnesses, nor the nuances that occur during live testimony. These young men are the ACCUSED, not the perpetrators. And as long as you enjoy living in a free America as opposed to a fascist or oppressive regime, you MUST countenance that fundamental truth of a free society: the accused remain INNOCENT until they are proven guilty unanimously by a jury of their peers. Period. The same people who would abrogate that fundamental rule of our constitution are the ones who also believe they proudly fly the flag from their pickup truck radio antenna. Be a REAL PATRIOT. Respect the U.S. Constitution. "
piece of mind wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:56 AM:
steph wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:19 PM:
I missed it.
On the other hand, several people, including myself, have commented that we're tired of gangs and gangmembers terrorizing hard-working families and whole neighborhoods.
That's constitutionally protected free speech.
It will be very nice if these nice boys who were randomly selected from the middle of track practice and college classes ARE found innocent, and then the real lone perpetrator is caught red-handed on video and repents on his way to prison. That would save a lot of time and money. Maybe the real lone gunman will exercise his right to admit his guilt and waive an expensive trial! Oh, I hope that happens! "
redredwine wrote on Oct 11, 2008 5:45 PM:
ruiz94558 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:37 PM:
BIGDADDY#2 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:40 PM:
cali707livin wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:17 PM:
who am i to say these three are innocent or guilty, but i will say that no one leaves this world without first payind their dues.. life has its way of making us pay sooner or later, whether we believe it or not.. and sometimes we pay with what most hurts.. "
cellsitegod wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:27 PM:
Napa PD are not idiots,
Obviously these boys have done something suspicious for them to be arrested.
And yes, being in a gang is wrong.
It's not the city's responsibility to "take care of " YOUR offspring.
If you can't raise em right don't have em!
Tell me the last time a gang has been praised for doing something positive in the community? "