A Harbison Canyon man who fatally shot a Dehesa man to death and wounded a woman was sentenced Friday to 72 years to life in state prison.
The family of Eufracio Alberto Enriquez, 38, spoke before Abel Angel Martinez, 52, was given the long sentence that means he will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 102 years old.
A Harbison Canyon man who fatally shot a Dehesa man to death and wounded a woman was sentenced Friday to 72 years to life in state prison.
The family of Eufracio Alberto Enriquez, 38, spoke before Abel Angel Martinez, 52, was given the long sentence that means he will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 102 years old.
El Cajon Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin imposed two 25-year terms consecutively for twice firing a gun in the March 16, 2014 incident around 6 a.m. when Martinez broke into Enrique’s home and shot him in the head.
Kirvin ordered a term of 15 years to life for second-degree murder to run consecutive to a 7-years to life term for premeditated attempted murder upon Leila Farmer, 41, Martinez’s girlfriend at the time. She was wounded in both arms.
“You have no idea the damage you caused,” said the victim’s sister, Marisela Enriquez to Martinez. “I would never imagine you, Abel, were capable of doing that.”
“He was a wonderful man and you know that. I cannot forgive you, Abel, I’m sorry, only God can,” said Marisela Enriquez. “May God have mercy on your soul and I wish you a very long life.”
“I’m very pleased with the sentence,” said another sister, Claudia Ruiz, afterwards.
Sonia Gutierrez, another of Enriquez’s sister, said her brother was “a good man, a family man” who was also a caregiver to a blind person. “He always did very good deeds,” she added. “We’re so grateful justice was done.”
Deputy District Attorney Amy Colby asked for the long sentence he received while Thomas Bahr, Martinez’s attorney, sought a term of 40 years to life. Bahr asked for concurrent sentences instead of consecutive terms.
Kirvin gave Martinez credit for 901 days spent in jail and fined him $10,294. The judge turned down Bahr’s motion for a new trial and to reduce the second-degree murder conviction to voluntary manslaughter.
The jury in Martinez’s first trial deadlocked in 2015 and a mistrial was declared. Martinez testified Enriquez fired at him after they struggled over a gun he found on a table. Sheriff’s deputies found the gun in some brush about 80 yards from where Martinez lived. They also found 30 pages of violent drawings Martinez had sketched about his plan for revenge on Enriquez and Farmer.
El Cajon doctor pleads not guilty for exchanging painkillers for sex acts
An El Cajon doctor has posted a $100,000 property bond after pleading not guilty to federal charges that allege he prescribed painkillers to female patients in exchange for sex acts.
Dr. Naga Raja Thota, 62, was arraigned Aug. 31 before U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Skomal on seven felony counts that allege he prescribed painkillers without a legitimate medical purpose. He returns to court on Sept. 13.
Thota operates a pain management practice and his medical partner will have to approve certain prescriptions for patients as a condition of Thota’s bond.
“Prescription drug abuse and overdoses have reached alarming levels,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “We are going after doctors who abuse their power to prescribe and exploit the desperation of addicts for their own gratification.”
Lakeside man awaits prelim hearing for theft
Steven Anthony Guider, 52, of Lakeside, is awaiting a Sept. 13 preliminary hearing on charges he stole $2,000 worth of construction equipment and advertised it for sale on Craigslist.
Guider, who was arrested Aug. 8, has pleaded not guilty in El Cajon Superior Court. He is also charged with possessing a stolen motorcycle worth $4,000, possession of heroin and narcotics paraphernalia. He remains free on $25,000 bond.
