Santa Maria Men Get Life in Prison in U-Haul Murder

Defense attorneys tried, but were not successful in preventing five men from receiving a mandatory life sentence without parole for their roles in Santa Maria’s so-called U-Haul murder case.

Jason Castillo, 31; Reyes Gonzales, 44; Santos Sauceda, 35; Ramon Maldonado, 39; and David Maldonado, 57 were convicted in the brutal torture and murder of Anthony Ibarra in 2013. His body was found stuffed in the back of a UHaul parked on a quiet street in Orcutt.

During a trial that lasted months, prosecutors told jurors the killing was over unpaid drug debts.

In court Friday, attorneys tried unsuccessfully to gain new trials for the five convicted men.

Arguments included allegations of juror misconduct, a decision by the judge to keep the trial in Santa Maria, insufficient evidence, and having the men stand trial as a group, even though each had his own defense attorney.

“You hear evidence comes in and the court allows it in under some theory but it only really applies to one but it contaminates all of them and so you feel like you are not getting a fair trial,” said Gonzales’ defense attorney Tom Allen who made many of the motions for a new trial

The chief prosecutor during the trial was Assistant District Attorney Ann Bramsen, who countered to the judge there was enough evidence the convict the five men.

Judge Rick Brown agreed and moved forward with the life sentences that mean the men will never set foot again outside a prison.

Attorneys are expected to launch appeals on behalf of each of the convicted men.