Thread: UPDATE: Teen Guilty of First Degree Murder

Tragic story, perps father molested the older brother and was deported, father of the victim, facing deportation mother of victim having third child.

UPDATE: Teen Guilty of First Degree Murder

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Reported by: Steve McCarron Email: smccarron@cbsfresno.com

A Fresno County Judge has found 15 year-old Raul Castro guilty of first degree murder for the death of his 4 year-old neighbor, Alex Mercado.

Castro was accused of sexually molesting Mercado in October of 2009 and then drowning him in a bathtub to keep him from telling. Investigators later found Mercado’s body in the clothes dryer in Castro’s home.

Judge Jonathan Conklin handed down Friday's verdict just after 9:00 a.m. In addition to the first degree murder charge, he also found Castro guilty of two sex counts, including sodomy. Castro was found not guilty of kidnapping.

After the verdict was read, Mercado's mother read a statement outside the Fresno County Courthouse.

"I wanted to think that I would be closing a chapter of my life once this was all over. But in reality, all I really will be closing is I won't have to step foot in this courtroom in here and hear this all over again," Mindy Mercado said.

"Today was relief. Peace. It was not an ending 'cause we're not done yet. But it was just a little bit of closure," said Laura Robledo, Alex Mercado's aunt.

The Mercado family then traveled to Alex's gravesite at Fresno Memorial Gardens to decorate it for the Easter holiday. They also released red and white balloons into the air to honor him.

Castro's family and defense attorney did not wish to comment about the verdict.

Because of his age, Castro is not eligible for the death penalty but does face the possibility of life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 24th.
http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/UP ... -QdAw.cspx

Slain Mendota Boy's Family Facing More Loss

By Dennis Hart

With the funeral of 4-year-old Alex Mercado set to take place on Monday, KMJ News has learned that the family of the murdered Mendota boy is facing another loss.

KMJ News learned Alex Mercado's father Luis faces deportation in January because he is an illegal alien.

In addition, Alex's mother is pregnant, and due to deliver, the couple's third child -- also in January.

Alex Mercado disappeared last Friday and was found dead on Saturday inside the clothes dryer of the house next door -- the house where Raul Castro, 14, lives.

Castro has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and could spend the rst of his life in prison.

Court documents show that Raul Castro admitted sodomizing and drowning Alex Mercado.

Raul Castro's father was sentenced to three years in prison in 1996, after he pleaded guilty to sodomizing Raul's older brother.
At the time, that boy was 5 years old.
http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/landing_new ... feedID=806

Published online on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
By Pablo Lopez / The Fresno Bee

The arraignment of a 14-year-old Mendota boy on murder charges in connection with the slaying of his 4-year-old neighbor has been delayed until Tuesday.

Raul Renato Castro, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, made two brief appearance Tuesday in Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jon Nick Kapetan's courtroom.

Castro learned in the morning that the Public Defender's Office could not defend him because of a conflict. During the afternoon session, Kapetan appointed veteran Fresno defense attorney Barbara O'Neill to represent Castro, who is being charged as an adult in the killing of Alex Christopher Mercado on Oct. 30.

The nature of the conflict by the Public Defender's Office was not made public. But attorneys from that office once defended Castro's father, Jose Antonio Castro, who pleaded guilty in 1996 to a felony charge of a lewd act with a minor. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was deported to Mexico, authorities said.

A criminal complaint charges Castro with first-degree murder and special allegations, including kidnapping. If convicted, the teen faces up to 47 years to life in prison.

On Tuesday, several armed bailiffs surrounded Castro as he scanned the courtroom looking for family and friends. He smiled briefly when he saw his mother, Elsa Castro, in the second row.

O'Neill asked to delay Castro's arraignment because she wanted time to read the investigative reports before her client entered a plea.

A court affidavit in support of an arrest warrant says Castro confessed to sexually molesting Alex before drowning him in a bathtub. Castro is being held in the Juvenile Justice Campus south of Fresno.
His bail is $2 million.
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/crime/story/1705433.html
http://crimeseekers.net/forums/showthre ... nt-delayed

Lock him up and let his fellow prisoners show him all the love he wants.

attorneys from that office once defended Castro's father, Jose Antonio Castro, who pleaded guilty in 1996 to a felony charge of a lewd act with a minor. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was deported to Mexico, authorities said.

Geez talk about following in your fathers footsteps?

This is why whenever ANY illegal is apprehended their homes need to be searched and any more illegals need to be sent packing also.