| For Immediate Release Case # 06CF3677 08ZF0021 April 13, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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INMATE SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR BEATING-MURDER OF FELLOW INMATE BELIEVED TO BE IN CUSTODY FOR CHILD MOLEST
*Seven co-defendants have been sentenced and one is pending trial in this case
SANTA ANA – An inmate was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for his role in the beating-murder of a fellow Theo Lacy Facility (Theo Lacy) inmate believed to be a child molester. Raul Villafana, 25, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 25, 2011, of one felony count of second degree murder.
Seven co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case. Stephen Paul Carlstrom, 44, Anaheim, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 25, 2011, of one felony count of second degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on March 21, 2012. Garrett Eugene Aguilar, 30, Anaheim, and Jared Louis Petrovich, 28, Tustin, were found guilty by a jury Oct. 25, 2011, of one felony count of second degree murder. They were each sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on Jan. 27, 2012. Miguel Guillen, 49, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 25, 2011, of one felony count of second degree murder. He has two prior strike convictions for assault with a deadly weapon from 1993. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison on Dec. 2, 2011.
Michael Stewart Garten, 26, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Jan. 11, 2011, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. Christopher Teague, 35, Long Beach, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann, 28, Corona, pleaded guilty Jan. 18, 2011, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and were each sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
Co-defendant Eric Charles Miller, 26, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Miller is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing April 20, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35.
Facts of the Case
In October 2006, Petrovich was the “shot-caller” for the Caucasian prison-controlled gangs barracks where he was housed at Theo Lacy. Aguilar and Carlstrom were the second and third in command, respectively. Villafana was the “shot-caller” for one of the Hispanic prison-controlled gangs in the same barracks and Guillen was his third in command.
While incarcerated at Theo Lacy, Carlstrom confronted inmate John Chamberlain to determine for what charges Chamberlain was incarcerated. Chamberlain was in custody on misdemeanor possession of child pornography charges. The inmates targeted him because they believed he was a child molester. After questioning the victim, Carlstrom reported back to Petrovich.