DATE: August 30, 2018

CASE: Alexis Castaneda (Case #17FE023607)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney James Wax, Career Criminal Prosecution Unit

Alexis Castaneda was convicted by a jury of robbery and carjacking with findings that Castaneda used a firearm during both offenses.  The jury also convicted Castaneda of illegal possession of a firearm.  Castaneda had previously pled to robbery while armed with a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm stemming from a separate incident.

On September 23, 2017, the first victim was arriving home and pulled his vehicle into the driveway.  Castaneda jumped out of a car that was parked near the driveway and robbed the victim while armed with a gun.  There were four suspects involved in the robbery.  Castaneda was identified by surveillance video and fingerprints taken from the crime scene that matched Castaneda’s known prints.

On September 24, 2017, a father and son were arriving home and parked along the curb when Castaneda and three other suspects surrounded their vehicle.  One of the suspects pointed a gun at the father, forced him to exit the vehicle and struck him with the gun. Castaneda also had a gun and pointed it at the son, who had exited the vehicle. One of the suspects drove away in the vehicle.  The victims had been transporting marijuana plants at the time they were robbed.  The stolen vehicle was found about an hour later. A latent print taken from the vehicle matched Castaneda.

Castaneda has a prior 2017 conviction for possession of controlled substance for sale.

Castaneda faces a maximum sentence of 24 years and 8 months in prison.  Sentencing is set for October 12, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. in Department 21 before the Honorable Steve White.

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