| For Immediate Release Case # 06CF3677 08ZF0021 April 23, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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NINTH AND FINAL INMATE SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN BEATING-MURDER OF FELLOW INMATE BELIEVED TO BE IN CUSTODY FOR CHILD MOLEST
*Eight co-defendants have been sentenced in this case
SANTA ANA – A ninth and final inmate was sentenced today to six years 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. Eric Charles Miller, 26, Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter.
Eight co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case. Raul Villafana, 25, Santa Ana, 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 April 13, 2012. 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, 36, 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.
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.
Petrovich met with Villafana and the two decided that Chamberlain should be sexually assaulted and beaten. Petrovich informed other inmates that Chamberlain was a child molester and authorized the Caucasian inmates to assault him.