Child killer Gonzalo Curiel sentenced to life in prison without parole
UPDATE: 7/16/2018 4:43 p.m. Gonzalo Curiel left the Monterey County Jail this morning.
Jail officials confirm he was transferred to the North Kern State Prison in Delano for processing. This is where CDCR officials will decide where he will serve his prison term.
He was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deaths of Shaun and Delylah Tara and another life sentence for the abuse and torture of their older sister.
Despite the sentence, however, he will get a chance for parole after 25 years since he was a minor when the crimes were committed.
UPDATE 7/11/2018 4:30 p.m.: The Salinas man convicted of killing two children and abusing a third was back in court Wednesday for sentencing.
In April, a jury found Gonzalo Curiel, 20, guilty of killing Shaun, 7, and Delylah Tara, 3, and abusing their older sister, who was 9 at the time. The children were under the care of Curiel’s then-lover Tami Huntsman.
Wednesday, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Pamela L. Butler sentenced Curiel to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the children’s deaths, and an additional life sentence for the abuse of the surviving victim.
In a victim impact statement read aloud in court, the surviving victim, Jane Doe, said she forgave Curiel and co-conspirator Tami Huntsman, saying in part:
“What Tami and Gonzo have put in my life was the worst thing that I experience [sic]. If I could I would have stopped it myself but sadly I was weak and tired. I wanted my sister and brother to know what life meant. Not the meaning of being hurt, sad, and killed.
I will never have that chance to show them that and how it felt. What I miss about Shaun was his stile [sic], laugh, character and his man walk, plus he was smart. He was the best brother I could have. He would never let me down.
Delilah [sic], she was the prettiest sister I ever seen, but for her to live the bad way and not the good… that affects my heart. She was very young and I barely got to know her. I bet she would have been very intelligent as she grew in life. Guess what she can’t because of Tami and Gonzo.
When I thought about it I realized that everything has a season and people can change when they want to, even your aunt and friends. Also its [sic] not good to dislike someone for a long time. So at this time I would love to say I forgive Tami Huntsman and Gonzalo Curiel for their actions.”
During sentencing, Butler said his actions reflect evil and that the children were provided for under Huntsman but that things changed when Curiel entered the picture.
She said “the cruelty exhibited, the intentional torture, the beatings, the starving, the efforts to exert authority and control reflect a ruthlessness that is rarely seen in someone that is Curiel’s age.”
“Regardless of how you behave in state prison, regardless of what you do to better yourself and I hope you do better yourself, no matter if your conduct is exemplary, you should never get out of state prison,” Butler told Curiel. “And the reason I say that is, the conduct you engaged in, the only just sentence is you spend the rest of your life in state prison. That is justice. Nothing short of that would be just.”
Despite the sentence, Curiel could seek parole in 25 years. That’s because of a change in the laws that went into effect in January, essentially saying minors sentenced to life without the possibility of parole could seek a parole hearing after 25 years. Prosecutors are already preparing for that.
“I will probably attach a copy of the transcript, so that the parole board in 25 years gets to hear from the judge,” said Steve Somers, deputy district attorney. “We’re going to put together a packet so whoever succeeds me, because I won’t be here, will be armed with the full force of this case so that some parole board will understand this is not a human being that should ever walk free.”
Curiel’s attorney said he planned to file a notice of appeal, which is standard after a jury trial. However prosecutors believe their case was strong enough and left little doubt.
Neither did not speak in court, nor did his family wish to comment after the hearing.
He will be held at the Monterey County Jail until he is transferred to the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
For her role, Huntsman was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole in May. She pleaded guilty to the crimes, which spared her the death penalty. She is now at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla.
ORIGINAL POST: Gonzalo Curiel, the man convicted of killing two children and abusing a third under the care of his then girlfriend, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In April, prosecutor, Steve Somers said without a doubt the acts of Curiel and Tami Huntsman led to the deaths of her niece and nephew, Shaun and Delylah Tara. He said it seemed like Curiel enjoyed the abuse and torture.
“He admitted to the deputy, ‘oh yeah I punched her in that hurt arm just once or twice. That is a level of sadism and torture that’s incomprehensible,” said Somers.
The children’s bodies were found in a Redding storage facility, while their older sister was found alive in Huntsman’s car in Plumas County.
In court Wednesday, Judge Pamela Butler said, “This is not a common case it would be considered pretty atypical by any standard. The difference would be based on the facts the age disparity between you (Curiel) and Huntsman, the number of victims the tragic circumstances, but the most extraordinary part is the death of the two children and the torture of the third and the manner in which they were killed.
Most people want to understand why crime happens. I think its just human nature and this case defies that. Although people may not understand gangs, like gangs, it’s not shocking when one gang member shoots and kills another gang member. It is shocking to the conscious when two adults take responsibility of two children starve and torture them to death. It defies all logic. It is a reflection of some sort of evilness. Those kids were some of the most vulnerable victims that could be found. They lost their mother to death, their father was being incarcerated. They were placed voluntarily with their aunt who they didn’t know and in a situation that was out of their comfort zone and simply adding insult to injury things were going fine. By all accounts Tami was providing for them to the best of her abilities, treating them as she did her own children, providing love, comfort, housing, food, it was probably not a perfect existence but it was certainly acceptable by all standards.
The only thing that changed was you (Curiel) entering into their lives. Your statement to probation indicates that somehow you were almost a victim of Tami herself. she is accountable and she is morally and legally responsible as much as you are but you were the catalyst that caused this entire situation to become so horrific. and there’s no other way for any one to access these facts and come to a different conclusion.
The cruelty exhibited, the intentional torture the beatings the starving the efforts to exert authority and control are really reflected of a ruthlessness that is rarely seen in someone your age. There is no basis, no reason for this to have happened.”
“Regardless of how you behave in state prison, you should never get out of state prison,” Judge Butler said.
Somers told KION because of a new law, Curiel will get a parole hearing after 25 years.
In February, Huntsman pleaded guilty for her roles in the murders. She was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole, three additional life sentences, plus nine years for the abuse and murders of Shaun and Delylah and the abuse of their older sister.