Manila 5 in homicide case down to Manila 1

Except for Cesar Valenzuela, the three remaining defendants in Manila gomicide agreed to a negotiated disposition today. Jury trial for the three was supposed to start on January 21.

Valenzuela is requesting a continuance as his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo, is in another trial. He was not ready to accept the offer today. Setting of his jury trial is on January 27. People made an offer that if Valenzuela admits to carjacking and a special allegation, it would  be a stipulated term of 13 years. He would waive credits as part of his plea. Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer agreed to keep the offer open until trial setting.

The three who entered pleas today will be sentenced to February 13.

Tamara Thomson, represented by Mr. David  Nims, pleaded guilty to an amended count, PC 192 (a), voluntary manslaughter and special allegation that a firearm was used  in the commission of crime. Stipulated term of 14 years. She waived 1/2 her custody rights and right to appeal.

Brandon Mitchell, represented by Andrea Sullivan pleaded guilty to Count 2 carjacking for a 5 year prison term and special allegation that a firearm was used in the commission of a crime which carries a sentence of up to 25 years as well as added Count 3, voluntary manslaughter for a 2 year term, which he will serve consecutively. He did not waive credits but entered an apellate waiver.

Hector Godoy-Standley, represented by Mr. Russ Clanton, withdrew his 995 motion and waived the evidentiary hearing scheduled for today.  He waived his appellate rights and all pre sentence credits. Godoy-Standley pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the crime of carjacking for a stipulated term of three years and 1 year term for the special allegation that he was "armed during the commission of the crime."

Catherine Fode already pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Her sentencing was "trailing" the others and setting of sentencing is scheduled for January 21.

No other media was in court. Victim Tyson Carlos' family was in court.

From Shouse Law: Voluntary manslaughter is a felony in California with a sentencing range of probation with up to one year in county jail, or three (3), six (6) or eleven (11) years in state prison. Murder, by contrast, carries asentence of 15 years to life in state prison, or 25 years to life in the case of first-degree murder.