DATE: June 22, 2023

CASE: Jarone Barnard Castle (Case #19FE002865)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Adriana Garcia, Major Crimes Unit

On June 21, 2023, Jarone Barnard Castle was convicted by a jury of two counts of robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and grand theft of a firearm. The jury also found true personal use of a firearm allegations as well as aggravating factors that the crime involved great violence; threat of great bodily harm; or other acts disclosing high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness; and being armed with a weapon at the time of the offense.

On January 21, 2019, Castle and three unknown individuals followed the two victims home from a gun range. After returning home, the victims parked on the driveway and began unloading guns and gear from their truck. Castle and three others approached one of the victims, pointed a semi-automatic firearm to his head and demanded the guns. Castle grabbed a case with a Remington 870 shotgun, a bag full of ammunition and equipment off the victim’s shoulder. All four suspects fled the scene after firing two shots into the ground. On January 25, 2019, the Merced Police Department were conducting an unrelated investigation when they located the stolen shotgun in a Vallejo home. Castle was seen leaving that house and drove to Oakland, where he led Oakland police on a pursuit. When Castle collided with another car, he tried to flee on foot before being arrested by Oakland police. Further investigation linked the stolen shotgun to Castle.

Allegations that Castle has two prior strike convictions for robbery in 2011 and carjacking in 2018 will be determined at the sentencing hearing.

Castle faces a maximum sentence of 90 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for July 7, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in Department 13 before the Honorable Matthew Gary.