Thread: Pantaleon faces charges in court Update

Pantaleon faces charges in court
Murder suspect's family visits SR home where woman slain, say man 'wasn't right in the head'

By Martin Espinoza and Laura Norton
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
May 15, 2008



Minutes before Honorio Pantaleon appeared in court Wednesday morning to face murder charges, his family visited the Santa Rosa apartment he shared with Patricia Barrales and their two young children.

Pantaleon's father, mother, a brother and a sister solemnly rummaged around the two-bedroom unit on Montecito Boulevard, trying to make sense of the brutal weekend attack in which police say Pantaleon stabbed Barrales while their boys were in the apartment. Police said Pantaleon then stuffed Barrales' body in a plastic toy box in a closet.

"We're very sad. There are no words," said Pantaleon's sister, Angelica Pantaleon, speaking in Spanish, adding later that her brother "wasn't right in the head."

She said Honorio Pantaleon never got along with Barrales' family, especially her mother, and there were long-standing ill feelings. Pantaleon, she said, was tormented by ongoing conflicts with Barrales' family.

"He would always say that he saw her mother in Patty's face when he talked to her," said Angelica Pantaleon. "He would come and tell you the spirit of the mother would go into Patty's body . . . the only thing we know is that he was crazy."

Barrales' family declined a request for an interview Wednesday.

At the Rincon Valley apartment, toys were scattered about in nearly every room. With the exception of a bare mattress, there was almost no furniture in the apartment.

In a green bin in the corner of the living room, a stuffed yellow fish and green rubber frog hinted at family times now gone forever. What appeared to be blood stains could be seen on the carpet in one of the bedrooms, between the doorway and a closet.

Police said Wednesday they could not comment on the carpet stains or whether the stains had been there when police first searched the apartment just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

"We're not able to release any more information about the crime scene at this time," said Sgt. Lisa Banayat. "Any obvious signs of a crime were not seen when officers visited the apartment."

After spending time in the apartment Wednesday morning, Pantaleon's family rushed to the Sonoma County Superior Court chamber where he was scheduled to appear.

Shackled and guarded by half a dozen bailiffs, Pantaleon was brought into the courtroom shortly after 11 a.m., making eye contact with his father and mother.

Pantaleon is charged with murder, aggravated mayhem, domestic violence, child endangerment and mayhem, the use of a knife, the infliction of great bodily injury and two unnamed special circumstances.

Pantaleon, 30, faces a life sentence if convicted of murdering Barrales, 25, his public defender Jeff Mitchell said.

Pantaleon did not enter a plea and was denied bail.

Pantaleon's arraignment took place before Judge Elliot Daum and lasted no more than 10 minutes. The defendant answered court questions through the aid of a translator.

Barrales' family did not attend.

Outside the courtroom, Pantaleon's family declined to comment on his appearance.

Earlier in the day, they described him as a man with a troubled past who was trying to get his life in order. They said Pantaleon, born in Mexico, immigrated legally to the United States many years ago but lost his legal status as young teen when he ran afoul of the law.

Angelica Pantaleon said her brother crossed the border "without papers" three times, and Barrales helped him cross the last two times. The family, from Kelseyville, offered few details about the specific crime or crimes that led to his immigration status being revoked when he was a juvenile.
Pantaleon's status as an illegal immigrant made his life difficult, they said.

When asked if they ever sought psychiatric help for him, Angelica Pantaleon said, "We couldn't help him for the same reason that he didn't have any papers."

According to Bobby Hopper, onsite manager of the apartment complex where Barrales and Pantaleon lived, the couple moved in about two months ago. Now, Hopper realizes their rental application was filled with false information.

"She was a very nice lady with really nice kids," said Alan Caulfield, a private contractor who lives down the street and is remodeling several apartments in the complex.

"Those kids will never forget that," he said. "To be buried in a toy box in a closet with all their toys on top . . . that's wrong, wrong, wrong."

Caulfield said he and the owner of Fiorinos Lounge at Montecito Center are organizing a benefit for Barrales' children, ages 2 and 4, who are now living with their maternal grandmother in Ukiah.

Joey Avalos, who co-owns Fiorinos Lounge with his parents, said the May 24 benefit likely could raise several hundred dollars for the children.

"They were right across the street," said Avalos. "They were our neighbors."

Pantaleon was arrested late Monday by Ukiah police after a 911 call revealed he was staying at a relative's home there.

He allegedly attempted to shoot Barrales' mother, Isabel Barrales, 45, at her home earlier that day. When the rifle didn't fire, she reportedly grabbed for it, and he hit her in the head and left, police said.

Pantaleon eventually will face attempted murder and assault charges in Mendocino County, officials said.

Mitchell, Pantaleon's public defender, said his client likely will plead not guilty Friday when he next appears in court in Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220 or laura.norton@pressdemocrat

.com. You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/2 ... plate=kart

Angelica Pantaleon said her brother crossed the border "without papers" three times, and Barrales helped him cross the last two times. The family, from Kelseyville, offered few details about the specific crime or crimes that led to his immigration status being revoked when he was a juvenile.
Pantaleon's status as an illegal immigrant made his life difficult, they said.

When asked if they ever sought psychiatric help for him, Angelica Pantaleon said, "We couldn't help him for the same reason that he didn't have any papers."

Yeah right, like there's a shortage of IA activists in the state, gimme a break!

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Pantaleon competent to face murder charge

BY L.A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 1:06 p.m.
MARK ARONOFF/THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Honorio Pantaleon, 30, is charged with murder, aggravated mayhem, domestic violence, child endangerment and other charges that could trigger the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

A psychiatrist has determined that a Santa Rosa man charged with murdering his girlfriend and stuffing her in a toy box over Mother’s Day weekend is competent to understand the criminal case against him.

But criminal proceedings against Honorio Pantaleon, 30, will remain suspended pending a second evaluation by another doctor.

Pantaleon is charged with murder, aggravated mayhem, domestic violence, child endangerment and other charges that could trigger the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

Santa Rosa police said Pantaleon stabbed 25-year-old Patricia Barrales multiple times at their Rincon Valley apartment May 10 while their two young boys were present. Police said he then hid Barrales’ body in a plastic toy box in a closet.

In a brief court hearing Thursday, Pantaleon’s attorney, Jeff Mitchell, requested a second opinion after receiving the results of Dr. Donald Apostle’s examination of Pantaleon.

After interviewing Pantaleon and examining records in the case, Apostle found Pantaleon is mentally competent.

Prosecutor Bob Waner said there is no legal requirement for a second opinion, but he didn’t oppose Mitchell’s request for an additional evaluation.

“We’re very comfortable with Dr. (Emily) Keram taking a look at him,â€

He's such a g-o-o-o-d boy!

Yep south of us. The first report was that he was helped back here by his parents. I'm going to call the reporter and see if she has any evidence that his family helped him back in the country and if the police will charge them with aiding and abetting.

Santa Rosa police said Pantaleon stabbed 25-year-old Patricia Barrales multiple times at their Rincon Valley apartment May 10 while their two young boys were present. Police said he then hid Barrales’ body in a plastic toy box in a closet.

Panaleon is one of Bush's good ol'boys with LOTS OF MEXICAN "FAMILY VALUES that just dont stop at the Rio Grande".

I guess the reporters Martin Espinoza and Laura Norton want us to feel empathy for this animal. An his family probably believes that this young man, Pantaleon is really a good boy, but has been misunderstood because he was constantly in fear of being caught in the country without papers.- AINT GONNA HAPPEN.

WHAT AN ANIMAL. Thank you Calderon, for sending us one of your "very best".

Torture allegations stand in toy box murder case

By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.

A Sonoma County judge Friday denied a defense motion to dismiss torture allegations and other special circumstances against a Santa Rosa man accused of stabbing his girlfriend 68 times and stuffing her body in a toy box over Mother's Day weekend last year.

Judge Ken Gnoss said there was enough evidence at a preliminary hearing to justify the allegations against Honorio Victor Pantaleon, 31, accused of first-degree murder in the slaying of Patricia Barrales, 25, in their Rincon Valley apartment.

Also, Gnoss denied a defense motion to dismiss charges filed in Mendocino County, where Pantaleon is accused of trying to kill his mother-in-law after the stabbing.

If convicted of all charges, Pantaleon faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. Prosecutors said they will not seek the death penalty.

Pantaleon has entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychiatric report is expected Thursday and a trial is set for Oct. 26.

He's accused of one of the more gruesome crimes in recent Sonoma County history.

Police said on May 10, 2008, he attacked Barrales, stabbing her 22 times in the head and neck alone and leaving a knife blade in one of her eyes. The couple's children, ages 4 and 2 at the time, were in the apartment.

Detectives said he then wrapped her body in a blanket and shoved it into a 30-gallon tub, which he stored in the back of the children's closet.

After the killing, Pantaleon dropped off the children with their birth certificates and family dog at his mother's house in Kelseyville, investigators said.

Then, on May 12, he is accused of trying to shoot Barrales' mother in Mendocino County, but the gun didn't fire. He was arrested the same day in Ukiah.

At his preliminary hearing, a forensic pathologist said Barrales' injuries were consistent with torture. Dr. Kelly Arthur testified that S-shaped marks were scrawled on her body during a 15-minute attack and that the majority of her wounds happened while she was still alive.

On Friday, Gnoss said he reviewed transcripts and photographs. The wounds to the eyes “clearly were horrendous,â€

Move to NEW Section for "Americans Killed by Illegals."