Three months after securing a deal with convicted killer Eliseo
Rojas in the murder of Ralph Santos, the San Benito County District
Attorney’s Office signed a plea bargain of voluntary manslaughter
for Eusebio Rios-Ramos Wednesday.
Rios-Ramos pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a hate
crime enhancement, use of a deadly weapon and agreed to waive all
his rights to an appeal. He faces up to 16 years in prison.
Hollister – Three months after securing a deal with convicted killer Eliseo Rojas in the murder of Ralph Santos, the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office signed a plea bargain of voluntary manslaughter for Eusebio Rios-Ramos Wednesday.
Rios-Ramos pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a hate crime enhancement, use of a deadly weapon and agreed to waive all his rights to an appeal. He faces up to 16 years in prison.
The District Attorney’s Office originally charged both men with first-degree murder, which carried with it a sentence of life in state prison if convicted. Prosecutors believe the two men killed 73-year-old Ralph Santos of Hollister in June of 2003 because he allegedly solicited sex from them. But the Santos family strongly disagrees with the solicitation theory and believes Rojas and Rios-Ramos fabricated the story to escape harsh prosecution.
Rojas, who was supposed to be sentenced Wednesday, will instead have his sentence determined along with Rios-Ramos by a judge next month, allowing family members to voice their opinion on both men’s sentencing at one time.
A condition of Rojas’ plea bargain of voluntary manslaughter, which could send him to prison for up to 11 years, eight months, was that he testify against Rios-Ramos. Deputy District Attorney Denny Wei, who took over the case from Deputy District Attorney Steven Wagner, declined to comment on why the District Attorney’s Office agreed to a plea or what will happen to Rojas’ condition that he testify against Rios-Ramos.
“I would ask you to wait to the day of sentencing (for a comment),” Wei said. “You’re catching me at an odd time. Right now I’m not going to comment.”
Wei referred all other comments to District Attorney John Sarsfield, who referred comments back to Wei.
Much of the Santos family’s anger has been directed at Sarsfield because they believe he orchestrated Rojas’ plea because he’s friends with the man’s attorney, Bud Landreth. Both Sarsfield and Landreth have denied the allegations.
The Santos family’s attorney, Arthur Cantu, was outraged at the second plea bargain and blamed Wagner, who passed the case off to Wei this week. Cantu attempted to have Rojas’ plea thrown out last month but a judge denied his request. He will get another chance when both Rojas and Rios-Ramos are sentenced next month.
“He (Wagner) promised us he was going to trial. It was all a charade,” Cantu said. “It’s irresponsible to the people of this county.”
Cantu and the family believe there was a enough evidence to take both men to trial, but Sarsfield has said he wouldn’t chance it because two key pieces of evidence were questionable.
Santos’ body was found stabbed and strangled in a mustard seed field off Buena Vista Road in June of 2003. His remains were so badly decomposed the coroner could never determine the cause of death, and Sarsfield worried that the men’s two confessions wouldn’t hold up in court because a judge ruled they were not properly informed of their Miranda rights.
About 15 of Santos’ family members were furious with the District Attorney’s decision to plea bargain Rios-Ramos and left the courtroom Tuesday afternoon with solemn, exhausted looks on their faces.
Lorie Santos, Santos’ daughter, said family members prepared themselves emotionally to speak in court and were let down when the sentencing date was continued and they received the final news about Rios-Ramos’ plea.
“Angry. Disgusted,” Lorie Santos said. “We continue to get beaten up. Every time we come here we feel so exhausted when we leave.”
Rojas and Rios-Ramos will be sentenced on March 23 at 9am.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
