MODESTO, Calif. — The people that authorities say helped conceal the alleged killer in the death of Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh will now be facing federal prosecution. Meanwhile, Paulo Mendoza, Singh's alleged killer, will continue his court case in Stanislaus County.
After Singh’s death, a multi-agency and multi-county manhunt began for the corporal’s suspected killer, which ended in Kern County. Numerous suspects including Mendoza, aka Gustavo Arriaga, were arrested.
A federal complaint alleges that Bernabe Madrigal Castaneda, Maria Luisa Moreno, Erasmo Villagas Suarez, Ana Cervantes Sanchez, Conrado Virgen Mendoza, Erik Razo Quiroz, and Adrian Virgen Mendoza conspired to "conceal, harbor, or shield" Arriaga and also aided and abetted him.
Allegations for Castaneda, Moreno, and Suarez include conspiracy to have Menodoza moved from California to Mexico. The complaint also included an allegation that Razo Quiroz was an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm.
Deputy District Attorney Jeff Mangar confirmed that Stanislaus County will keep the murder case against Arriaga, however, he said in email to ABC10 that the U.S. Attorney’s office will take over the prosecution of the four defendants accused of felony accessory charges.
In Kern County, the District Attorney’s Office also consulted with the United States Attorney and Department of Homeland Security to defer Castaneda, Moreno, and Villegas to Federal prosecution.
According to Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the defendants faced “more serious punishment” under federal laws than under California’s laws. According to the DA's office, all three defendants in Kern County were charged with being an accessory to the murder of Singh by harboring, concealing, or aiding the alleged perpetrator with the intent of having him escape.
California's AB 109, passed in 2011, was singled out by the DA's office because the law made it so accessories to any crime would not be eligible for state prison sentences, only jail terms.
Mangar acknowledged similar reasons for Cervantes, Conrado Virgen Mendoza, Virgen, and Razo Quiroz who are all facing felony charges of accessory.
The arraignment on indictment will be on Jan. 29.
The federal complaint includes details on the roles authorities believe the suspects played in trying to conceal Arriaga from law enforcement.
Ana Leydi Cervantes Sanchez - Allegedly helped Arriaga in his efforts to hide himself by providing several sets of clothing to him and failing to notify law enforcement about his whereabouts.
Conrado Virgen Mendoza - Allegedly transported Arriaga to multiple locations trying to find a safe place for the suspect, which included the area where Arriaga was said to have discarded the weapon he allegedly use to kill Cpl. Singh.
Erik Razo Quiroz - Allegedly helped Arriaga by using construction materials to hide the vehicle Arriaga was believed to have used during the murder and during his escape. Further allegations include that Razo Quiroz was with Arriaga and Conrado Mendoza as they tried to find a safe space for him, as he discarded a weapon, and while Arriaga was being transported from Quiroz’s Merced home to a dairy in El Nido, CA.
Adrian Virgen Mendoza - Alleged to have been aware of the murder case involving Arriaga, picked him up from El Nido, and transported him to multiple locations in Buttonwillow and Bakersfield to hide him. Further allegations include him contacting a human trafficker to hide and transport Arriaga from Bakersfield to Mexico.
Bernabe Madrigal Castaneda - Alleged to have concealed and harbored Arriaga at his Bakersfield home and purchased a new cell phone for him.
Maria Luisa Morena - Alleged to have hid and harbored Arriaga in her Bakersfield home.
Erasmo Villegas Suarez - Alleged to have provided Arriaga clothes, transferred $500 to Arriaga to help with transport to Mexico, and to have performed the prior actions while knowing Arriaga was pursued by law enforcement.
Full complaint below:
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