| For Immediate Release Case # 06CF3677 & 08ZF0021 December 2, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
INMATE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR BEATING-MURDER OF FELLOW INMATE BELIEVED TO BE IN CUSTODY FOR CHILD MOLEST
*Three co-defendants have been sentenced, four are awaiting sentencing, and one is pending trial in this case
SANTA ANA – An inmate was sentenced today to 20 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. Miguel Guillen, 48, 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.
The People argued at the sentencing today that “Guillen was one of the leaders of a group of inmates who decided to substitute their sick and twisted sense of right and wrong for our society’s right to fairly and justly try those accused of a crime in a court of law. Guillen did not afford his victim the rights that Guillen so richly enjoyed every time he was accused of a crime during his long and active criminal history. The defendant decided that it was acceptable for him and his co-defendants to act as the jurors, the judges and the executioners.”
Co-defendants Garrett Eugene Aguilar, 30, Anaheim, Stephen Paul Carlstrom, 44, Anaheim, Jared Louis Petrovich, 27, Tustin, and Raul Villafana, 25, Santa Ana, were also found guilty by a jury Oct. 25, 2011, of one felony count of second degree murder. They face a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison at their sentencing Jan. 27, 2012, in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Three co-defendants were previously convicted in this case. 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, 27, 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 Feb. 3, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C35, Central Justice Center.
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.