Irwindale: February 2012 Archives
WEST COVINA -- A man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Friday for bludgeoning his father to death with a dumbbell in an Irwindale self-storage facility, officials said.
Jonathan Martinez Pedraza, 26, of Hollywood, received his sentence from West Covina Superior Court Judge Douglas Sortino after being convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and other crimes Feb. 3, court officials said.
He killed his 62-year-old father, Miguel Pedraza of Glendora, Sept. 3, 2010 and left his body inside a storage locker at A-1 Mini Storage, 4391 Irwindale Avenue, officials said.
A motive in the killing has not been released.
The sentence was slightly less than the maximum possible sentence of 27 years to life in prison.
After killing his father, Jonathan Pedraza fled the area in a car, crashing through a security gate and becoming involved in a hit-and-run crash in Baldwin Park before being taken into custody.
In addition to murder, he was convicted of felony vandalism and two counts of hit-and-run, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
A hearing in October in which Pedraza was determined to be mentally competent to stand trial.
His trial lasted about a day and a half, and the jury deliberated for about two hours before finding Jonathan Pedraza guilty.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Pedraza delivered at least five powerful blows to his 62-year-old father's head causing 10 lacerations and a fractured skull.
WEST COVINA - A jury on Friday convicted a Hollywood man of beating his 62-year-old father to death with a dumbbell in an Irwindale storage facility.
Jonathan Martinez Pedraza, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder, felony vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run driving, according to Deputy District Attorney Stacy Okun-Wiese.
The jury also found true an allegation that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, the dumbbell.
Pedraza faces a maximum sentence of 27 years to life in prison at his Feb. 10 sentencing in West Covina Superior Court.
Miguel Pedraza of Glendora was killed Sept. 3, 2010 and his body was discovered inside a storage locker at A-1 Mini Storage, 4391 Irwindale Avenue.
The younger Pedraza delivered at least five powerful blows to his father's head fracturing the skull and causing 10 lacerations, according to authorities.
He then rammed his car though a security gate at the facility to escape before becoming involved in another collision in Baldwin Park.
He crashed into two other cars at a parking lot in the 14500 block of Ramona Boulevard and fled. Baldwin Park police found him hiding on the roof of a apartment complex in the 14400 block of Pacific Avenue and arrested him.
A judge in October 2011 ruled that Jonathan Pedraza was mentally competent to stand trial.
- Ruby Gonzales
WEST COVINA -- Trial began Wednesday for a Glendora man accused of murdering his father with a dumbbell in a storage facility in Irwindale in September.
Jonathan Pedraza, 26, is charged with Sept. 3, 2010 killing of his father, 62-year-old Miguel Pedraza of Glendora.
The body of the elder Pedraza was discovered inside of a storage locker at A-1 Mini Storage, 4391 Irwindale Avenue, beaten to death with a free weight, investigators said.
After the killing, Jonathan Pedraza allegedly rammed his car though a gate at the facility to escape before becoming involved in another hit-and-run crash in Baldwin Park.
A judge in October ruled that the son was mentally competent to stand trial. Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the killing.
After completing jury selection Wednesday in Pomona Superior Court, the jury listened to opening statements and the prosecution began laying out its case, court officials said.
According to county booking records, Jonathan Pedraza was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
PHOTO courtesy of the Irwindale Police Department
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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