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One man dropped from murder case
Three defendants still charged in 2007 gang-related slaying
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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9 p.m.Murder charges have been dismissed against one of the four young men arrested for their suspected roles in the December 2007 gang-related slaying of Ricardo Gonzalez, 19, in Napa.

Christian Gallegos, 18, had been charged with murder, street terrorism, discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and several other special allegations.
“I can confirm that charges against Christian Gallegos were dismissed in court on Tuesday as a result of additional police investigation,” Napa County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold wrote in an e-mail to the Register on Wednesday.

Goold declined to elaborate on what prompted the dismissal of the charges. He would not discuss if the prosecution had made an agreement with Gallegos to drop the charges in return for his testimony at trial against the other three defendants — Stephen Barrios, 19, Raymond Almodobar, 18, and Daniel Ortega, 19.
The three were in court on Wednesday afternoon to discuss their preliminary hearing, which was set for Monday.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Goold delivered additional investigation results to the three defense attorneys, who requested the preliminary hearing be postponed to give them more time to prepare for the hearing.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stone granted the motion and set the new date for Feb. 23.

At the preliminary hearing, the prosecution must present enough evidence to convince the judge that the defendants committed the crimes with which they are charged. The prosecution puts witnesses on the stand. Although the defense attorneys may cross examine the witnesses, typically they do not call witnesses of their own.

If the judge rules there is enough evidence that the crimes were committed, he issues a holding order and defendants are bound over for trial.

Goold said he expects to call about 25 witnesses at the preliminary hearing, which he said is likely to take four to five days.

Gonzalez was shot in the head on Dec. 8 in a gang street fight on Laurel Street in west Napa. He died two days later at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

According to his mother, Rosa Vargas, her son was supposed to attend a quinceañera the night he died, but decided at the last minute to not go. She said a group of Sureño gang members came to her house and Gonzalez left with them. They drove to a nearby apartment complex to confront rival gang members. Gonzalez was shot during that confrontation.

All three defendants are being held in Napa County jail. Barrios and Ortega’s bail is set at $5 million. Almodobar’s bail is $3 million.
14 comment(s)

GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 26, 2008 10:44 PM:

" good to hear they dropped charges against him. we don't need to lock up people that didn't commit a crime. now can NPD please explain why the sureño gang-members were not arrested? "

omg wrote on Nov 26, 2008 11:12 PM:

" very happy for the Gallegos family! they really have a reason to be thankfull this year! "

49er wrote on Nov 27, 2008 9:55 AM:

" Yeah that's nice that chris was set free, but he should still be charged. Just because he decided to put the blame on someone else does not mean that he should go free! He knew what he was doin that night! Wow, who even knows if what he is saying is true! Well Danny will be released soon as well, we all miss you fam! Stay strong! Keep ya head up! To: grapetownbankerboi: Yeah really can someone please tell me why Ricardo's friends have not been arrested yet? What did they snitch to so they get to be on the streets still????? Sorry but they played a roll in this murder as well as everyone else that was there so they to should be arrested and charged for murder! But it is what it is! FREE DANNY ORTEGA!!!! "

YOUNGNAP wrote on Nov 27, 2008 10:25 AM:

" HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THIS CASE IS A GANG MEMBER... "

Dwayne wrote on Nov 27, 2008 10:47 AM:

" It'll be interesting when we find out if he got off because of no evidence against him, or if he ratted-out the other three in a deal with the DA....

From the story, it appears the DA is holding his cards close to his chest on the matter... "

janet707 wrote on Nov 27, 2008 2:05 PM:

" Wow!!! christian is set Free Wonder Why!! You Got It Snitch and Why would a Sureno Get locked up when it wasnt A Sureno That Shoot Ricardo?? Dum Airhead and49er keep Dreaming Fat Danny Is coming out as you can already see that one of Them Already Snitch....Ha Good Job NPD and i Hope All Dem Other Guys Stay In Jail and Rott For Affecting This Community So Much We Dnt Need This Kind of DRama in Napa Besides The STreets are better with out danny No Broken Windows to lots of house's he use to go and do Damage too Steven Barrios is 51/50 "

BLACKPONY wrote on Nov 27, 2008 2:32 PM:

" chris how could u snitch everyone out to save your self?? your just going to get it as bad now that your out... "

BYoung wrote on Nov 27, 2008 3:05 PM:

" Thats redicoulous the surenos havent been arested yet, what is with that? Free Raymond!!! "

cellsitegod wrote on Nov 27, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Doesn't mean he wasn't guilty of a crime.
He probably provided information on the others in exchange for dismissal of the charges or, they didn't have enough evidence to fullfill the requirments to charge him.
We'll see if he rolled on the others. "

RIVERSIDE 707 wrote on Nov 27, 2008 5:35 PM:

" to janet 707...the surenos should get locked up also because they also were fighting and causeing street terrorism and havent u ever thought about also for gang affiliation....plus it was ricardos friends who took him to die knowing he was about to be a father...and the nvr is wrong i was at dat quince and ricardo and his sureno friends showed up yellin out sureno gang stuff...and i cant beleive your actually trying to fight on dis and getting defensive is it because your a gangmember yourself or what?......and u say we dont need this drama in napa well the surenos have alot to do with it fighing dirty nd everything so then they should be behind bars to....but watever........FREE DANNY "

omg wrote on Nov 27, 2008 11:12 PM:

" for those of us who know Chris we know he is out because he is not guilty. those who do not know him, stop insinuating that he's a snitch. your comments just fuel unecesary fires,53f3i "

soccer mom wrote on Nov 28, 2008 2:04 AM:

" Some of u guys keep refering to christisn gallegos as a so called "snitch"? Is that what you refer him as after taking the blame of a case of this magnitude? I have worked with district attorneys as well as the gang prevention program for over seven years, and let me tell you christian gallegos was let free due to his well behavior as well as passed records, we hope to see ray change his life around soon too. We shouln't be accusing people of things neither you or i have access to. be patient things will soon proove christian gallegos would never do some thing in that magnatude. Be thankful for the life you live. Be thank ful for the life you hold. Its never to late to change your life around. "

AhStruck wrote on Nov 30, 2008 3:49 PM:

" soccer mom I would really like to live in your world, it must be real nice there. Since when does the DA drop charges on a person just cuz the behaved well in jail. If that were the case half the people in jail would be out walking the streets with you. I know how Gallegos changed his life around, that is pretty evident. Now you hope to see Ray change his life around too? The same way Gallegos did? Duh, the DA doesn't need Ray to change his life around now. Gallegos saved himself. Plain and simple. I thought there was suppose to be an honor thing amoung these gang members? I thought gang members stood up for one another. Guess that is just a myth. I believe all these boys were gang members, but I have to ask myself "why". Guess they always thought their "homies" would be there for them. What a pointless waste. "

soccer mom wrote on Feb 4, 2009 1:54 PM:

" AhStruck, It was never my intention to cause you any confusion, I understand your frustration. But untill we know the facts i ask you not to refer to Gallegos as a trator! We should not accuse peolple of thing we do nott have accesst to. What I refered to was Christian being released for firstly a great lack of evidence as well as past records NOT including the napa valley correctional facility! I was refering to records including elementay as well as middle school and high school. He also had never had any previous charges nor problems with the law. As the investigation continued, the investigators also were convinced that they did too have the wrong man. & Yess I also agree that behavior in jail is not a ticket out! Although good behavior in a correctional facility does grant you better privleges as well as cut down due time. As to Raymond A., he also had and will continue to have the same oppertunities Christian G. had as well as Danny O. and Stephen B. It was his choice to make and weather christian took that chance or not Raymod could have just as easily. Christian should NOT be referd to as a man who saved only his "but" untill we know the facts! hope i made myself clear. My prayers are with the families in a dificult time like this. Stay strong. As for those of you who don't know Christian he is making great progress and will continue to attend college & universety to persue his dream of becoming a neorologist surgen. I am glad that at least one of these boys has taken the right path to success. "He should of never been in this case to begin with,"as former nvpd police officer stated previously. "

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