| For Immediate Release Case # 07HF0324
June 6, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SON SENTENCED TO 53 YEARS TO LIFE
FOR MURDERING GIRLFRIEND AFTER
ARGUMENT OVER METHAMPHETAMINE
WITH 3-MONTH-OLD BABY IN ROOM
*Father convicted of helping son flee after the murder
SANTA ANA – An Irvine man was sentenced today to 53 years to life in prison for shooting and murdering his girlfriend in a bedroom with her 3-month-old baby after she refused to give him drugs. Anton Naimat, 21, Irvine, was found guilty by a jury May 22, 2008, of one felony count of first degree murder with a true finding for the sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm causing death. He was also convicted of one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has a prior 2006 conviction for possession of methamphetamine.
Anton Naimat’s father, Tassawur Naimat, 56, Irvine, was found guilty May 22, 2008, of one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison at his sentencing on July 11, 2008, in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
In January 2007, Anton Naimat began living in a spare room in his father, Tassawur Naimat’s, Irvine apartment with another roommate, his girlfriend Nicole Villareal, and Villareal’s 3-month-old baby.
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2007, Anton Naimat went into his bedroom with Villareal while his father and the other roommate were in the living room. The defendant got into an argument with Villareal after the victim refused to give methamphetamine to Anton Naimat. Anton Naimat went into the bathroom, got a gun, walked out and shot the victim one time in the head. Villareal’s 3-month-old baby was strapped into a baby seat in the bedroom when the victim was shot.
Anton Naimat left the bedroom and fled the apartment with Tassawur Naimat. The roommate found Villareal on the floor and called 9-1-1. Anton Naimat was arrested at approximately 3:10 a.m. on Feb. 9, 2007, after Irvine police officers found him at a friend’s home.
Villareal died a week later at Western Medical Center. The baby was placed in foster care.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.
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