A trial date for the case involving an ex-con charged with a “home invasion assassination” has been confirmed for September 11th. The defendant, Rodolfo Garcia, is accused of multiple crimes including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, firearm assault, burglary, making criminal threats, and carjacking. The trial proceedings are set to take place during the second week of September after both the prosecution and defense cleared their calendars.
Garcia is currently held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside. His former co-defendant and childhood friend, Jesus Ledesma Guzman, was also charged but was killed in a gunfight with U.S. Marshals during his arrest attempt in Northern California in November 2018.
The incident in question revolves around the shooting of Silvano Gutierrez Esteves at his Menifee residence in February 2018. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Garcia and Guzman were part of a larger “home invasion robbery crew” consisting of around a dozen men. This crew would dress in ballistic vests and masks, carry high-capacity rifles, and terrorize their targets across Southern California.
Guzman was believed to be the ringleader and allegedly buried multiple victims on his Lancaster property. The crew’s reign of terror started months before the murder, with one specific incident involving an illegal marijuana grow house. They stormed the property in the middle of the night, threatening the occupants, including three young children. The victims were physically assaulted, and the crew made off with various stolen items.
The stolen loot was then divided at Garcia’s house. The trial brief states that the motive for the murder was a feud between Garcia and Esteves over stolen marijuana. Several weeks later, Garcia and Guzman allegedly stormed Esteves’ home, ignoring his pleas and ultimately shooting him multiple times before leaving without taking anything.
Sheriff’s detectives were able to gather enough evidence linking Garcia to the crime. However, Guzman was already under investigation by authorities in Los Angeles County for drug-related killings. Garcia was arrested in October 2018, while Guzman was killed during a shootout with federal agents attempting to apprehend him.
Prior to this incident, Garcia had previous convictions for felony DUI, auto theft, and receiving stolen property.
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