Two people who pleaded no contest to kidnapping two men, robbing
them and forcing them to jump off a Hecker Pass bridge in October
2010 were sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday morning, while a
third defendant’s sentencing was delayed several hours because her
attorney was not present.
Two people who pleaded no contest to kidnapping two men, robbing them and forcing them to jump off a Hecker Pass bridge in October 2010 were sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday morning, while a third defendant’s sentencing was delayed several hours because her attorney was not present.
Nathaniel Garcia, 22, and Catrina Cameron, 23, stood stoically in the Santa Clara County Superior Courthouse in Morgan Hill as Judge Kenneth Shapero handed down the sentences for kidnapping, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon five weeks after they and Tamaya Duenas, 24, reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Without her attorney, Jim Leininger, Duenas cannot be sentenced, said Dana Overstreet, Santa Clara County deputy district attorney.
The hearing began at 9 a.m. and was pushed back to 1:30 p.m. and Shapero ordered Leininger be present.
Overstreet called Leininger’s absence “a pretty big deal,” but said he’d likely show by the 1:30 p.m. extension.
Cameron, Garcia and Duenas lured Jose Hernandez and Fernando Aguilar into Duenas’ apartment in 8800 block of Lilly Avenue in Gilroy on Oct. 25, 2010, according to court documents,
The three defendants were waiting with guns and knives and stole the victims’ cell phones, jewelry and wallets, according to police. Then they kidnapped the victims, put them into Hernandez’s truck and forced the two to make cash withdrawals of $500 and $600 from ATMs, according to police.
The victims then were bound, blindfolded and driven to Sprig Lake off Hecker Pass Highway in unincorporated Gilroy where they were allegedly pushed off the 15-foot bridge, according to police.
The victims’ injuries were not life-threatening and they were able to eventually contact police, GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao said.
Attempted murder charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement reached June 6, Overstreet said. She said the defendants could have faced life sentences, though with the possibility of parole.
Garcia received credit for 299 days served, while Cameron received credit for 297.
