Morgan Hill teen Sierra LaMar disappeared from our town on March 16, 2012. She was 15 at the time and a sophomore at Sobrato High School. Her alleged killer, Antolin Garcia Torres, 22, was arrested more than one year ago and he still has not entered a plea.
Something is terribly wrong with our justice system. Though it’s difficult to pin down the blame, the fact is that taking more than a year before a defendant enters a plea is ridiculous, not to mention cruel and unusual punishment for Sierra LaMar’s family, friends and those who have spent countless hours searching for her.
In court last week for the umpteenth time, Deputy DA Brian Welch said his office is still working with the Sheriff’s Office to acquire some outstanding evidence, which prosecutors will then turn over to the defense.
What’s that – acquire some evidence from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office a year later?
Look, either there’s enough evidence at this point to proceed or there’s not.
Given the lengthy delay, it’s hard to swallow Superior Court Judge Sharon Chatman’s explanation: “We have to make sure Mr. Garcia Torres’ constitutional rights and due process rights are maintained. We don’t want to have to have a redo, and (we want) to take the time to do things right.”
We would add that taking a year to enter a plea is not “doing things right.” Chatman should take the gavel by the horns and move this proceeding along. Hopefully the judge will make that clear at the next hearing scheduled for July 23.
Also hanging in the balance are additional charges against Garcia Torres unrelated to Sierra’s disappearance. Attempted carjacking charges are pending related to three attacks in 2009 in the parking lots of two Safeway stores in Morgan Hill. Police say Garcia Torres followed three different female victims to their parked cars at night, entered their vehicles as they unlocked the doors and tried to assault them.
There have been no similar attempted assaults in our city since Garcia Torres’ arrest.
Meanwhile, the wheels of justice are stalled. One of the volunteers still participating in the search for Sierra’s body is Mike Nino of Sunnyvale.
“We want to bring closure to the family, and let them know we’re there for them,” he said.
The court should move the wheels of justice toward closure. That’s the right thing to do now.
