El Cajon man receives life in prison for second-degree murder of 7-month-old
A judge on Nov. 22 sentenced an El Cajon man to 25 years to life in prison after convicted of second-degree murder and assault upon a child involving the death of his girlfriend’s 7-month-old son.
David Christopher Cruz, 24, was ordered to pay $7,086.49 in funeral and other expenses by El Cajon Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos, also fined him $10,294.
El Cajon man receives life in prison for second-degree murder of 7-month-old
A judge on Nov. 22 sentenced an El Cajon man to 25 years to life in prison after convicted of second-degree murder and assault upon a child involving the death of his girlfriend’s 7-month-old son.
David Christopher Cruz, 24, was ordered to pay $7,086.49 in funeral and other expenses by El Cajon Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos, also fined him $10,294.
A jury convicted him on Oct. 9 after four hours of deliberations in the death of Cordero Izaiah Cisneros, Jr. who suffered brain damages after he was violently shaken or beaten on March 18, 2011. Cruz was engaged at the time to the infant’s mother who was at work when her son was injured.
The infant’s aunt, Sarina Cisneros, read letters in court from his father, Cordero Cisneros, Sr. who was deployed at sea, and his grandmother. The military with Red Cross assistance flew the father back in time for him to see and hold his son for the last time.
Cruz admitted to a sheriff’s detective that he shook the baby after the boy was fussy. Cruz said he was angry that the baby was not quiet and admitted he struck the baby in the stomach and he fell on the floor. His attorney, Michael Begovich, argued the boy died from an untreated ear infection and not from a shaking or beating.
El Cajon robber sentenced to five years in prison
An El Cajon man shot by a bank security guard during a robbery was sentenced to five years in prison and was ordered to pay $22,131. Casey Alan Wilson, 27, was shot in the face and arm in the June 11 hold-up at a Wells Fargo bank in University City. Wilson fled without taking any money and was dropped off at a hospital by the getaway driver where he was later arrested.
The prosecutor asked San Diego Superior Court Judge Eugenia Eyherabide to impose a 7-year term. Wilson pleaded guilty to the June 11 hold-up and a previous robbery on May 7 from the same bank.
Williams committed to state mental hospital in arson case
A judge committed Darin Wayne Williams, 39, to a state mental hospital Nov. 19 after he was found to be insane when he torched the St. Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church in El Cajon.
Williams pleaded guilty to arson in the Jan. 27 fire, which caused $250,000 in damages and to assault with intent to commit mayhem to his cellmate on Jan. 31. El Cajon Superior Court Judge John Thompson determined Williams was insane.
Williams was living with a church member at the time, so a motive for the arson remains unknown. The blaze started at 4 a.m. at the Christian church at 1454 Jamacha Road, but no one was injured.
La Mesa man sentenced to 14 years in prison
A La Mesa burglar was sentenced Nov. 20 to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to residential burglary and inflicting battery with serious injury in another case.
Gene Ramirez Valadez, 32, agreed to be sentenced immediately by El Cajon Superior Court Judge John Thompson after pleading guilty in two cases. The burglary occurred Jan. 3 after La Mesa Police responded to a burglar alarm at 2:50 p.m. in the 7100 block of Purdue Avenue.
Valadez carried two purses and was seen running from the area before officers arrested him on Oxford St. Valadez posted $95,000 bond, but was arrested June 10 by sheriff’s deputies after injuring someone and evading officers with reckless driving on May 31. A prosecutor said Valadez, of National City, was in possession of methamphetamine. He also has a 2003 conviction for robbery.
