Jose Castaneda sentenced to 8 years in prison
UPDATE: 8/22/2017 3:23 p.m. Ex Salinas Councilman, Jose Castaneda has been sentenced to eight years in state prison for kidnapping, domestic violence, and stalking.
According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, on September 5, 2015, around 11 p.m. Castaneda beat up his ex girlfriend. The victim did not report it to police until Castaneda returned to her home close to midnight two days later. The victim told authorities that he demanded to talk to her.
Two days after deliberations, on May 24, 2017 a jury found former Salinas City Councilman guilty of kidnapping, domestic violence and stalking.
In court on Tuesday, August 22, the victim detailed how Castaneda’s actions impacted her life for the last two years.
Castaneda made a public apology to both previous girlfriends who testified against him in court. He said he has had time to dwell on his mistakes. He asked the court if he could be given probation so he could continue his work in the community and be there for his family.
Judge Carrie Panetta stated, “Castaneda’s apology sounded like a political statement for his supporters.” She said Castaneda not once apologized for his criminal actions only apologized for “the things that went on between he and the victims.”
The Judge did not grant Castaneda probation. She also granted a criminal order prohibiting contact with the victim and her son for ten years.
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6/22/2017 11:18- Former Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda has been appointed a new attorney, this according to case prosecutor, Elaine McCleaf.
Castaneda’s new attorney will be Lawrence Biegel. His sentencing date was pushed back to August 22 to give the attorney time to file any new motions. If there are any new motions they must be filed by August 1.
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6/22/17 8:10 a.m. Former Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda is expected to be sentenced Thursday morning in a domestic abuse case.
Castaneda was found guilty in May on three of four counts involving an incident with an ex-girlfriend back in September 2015. Among those charges, felony kidnapping, domestic violence and stalking.
Castaneda could face up more than 9 years in state prison.
UPDATE 5/25/2017 12:25 p.m. Former Salinas councilman Jose Castaneda’s attorney, James Segall-Guteirrez said he is planning to file a motion for a new trial.
Guteirrez believes Jose’s 6th amendment right to competent counsel was violated. He said he was not given enough time to go through the evidence and do his own investigation before the trial started.
He does not know when he will file the motion, but it would be before June 22, when Jose is supposed to be sentenced.
PREVIOUS STORY 5/24/2017 10:45 p.m.: Former Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda is in jail after a jury found him guilty on three charges in a domestic abuse case.
The jury found Jose Castaneda guilty on three of four charges following an incident with an ex-girlfriend back in 2015.
Now he’s facing the consequences for his actions.
“He faces 9 years and 8 months in state prison,” said District Attorney Elaine McCleaf.
Time Jose Castaneda could spend behind bars after a jury found him guilty for three of the four charges he faced.
“He was convicted of felony kidnapping, domestic violence and stalking and they hung, could not reach a decision on the misdemeanor sexual battery,” McCleaf said.
Those charges stem from an incident Castaneda had with a girlfriend back in September of 2015. McCleaf says the ex-girlfriend’s testimony was key to helping the jury reach a decision.
“Not all domestic violence victims have the courage that they displayed to come into court and be publicly shown and describe exactly the embarrassing traumatic things that happened to them so the jury was able to reach their verdicts because of these brave women,” McCleaf said.
The incident with his girlfriend wasn’t Castaneda’s only run-in with the law in 2015.
Earlier that year, he was involved in an altercation with a tamale vendor. He was also cited for driving with a suspended license.
With the guilty verdict Castaneda received in court Wednesday. McCleaf says Castaneda’s attorney does have a few options.
“He’s getting credits for the days that he is in custody, his attorney can possibly ask for two of the three charges to be reduced to misdemeanors,” McCleaf said. “They can ask for a grant of probation so there is a lot of room for the sentence in court.”
We reached out to Castenada’s attorney and are waiting to hear back. The sentencing date is set for June 22nd at 9:30 a.m.
PREVIOUS STORY: According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, Jose Castaneda has been found guilty of kidnapping, battery and stalking.
He was taken into custody after the verdict was read by the jury Wednesday afternoon. He will be held at the Monterey County Jail.
The DA’s office said Castaneda faces 9 years and 8 months in prison. His sentencing has not been scheduled yet, but may be about a month from now.