Sonoma County Man Pleads Guilty in Santa Rosa Drug-Buy Killing

A Sonoma man today pleaded guilty to the 2011 killing of a man in Santa Rosa who was set up in a drug deal, prosecutors said.

Fernando Lopez-Castillo , 27 of Petaluma, will be sentenced to 50 years to life, a Sonoma County District Attorney's spokesperson said. Under terms of the plea deal, Fernando Lopez-Castillo has waived his rights to an appeal and won't be credited with time served, prosecutors said.

Lopez-Castillo was among four men involved in the killing of Jose Manual DeJesus, who was expecting to sell marijuana when he was shot to death in the Oct. 6 2011 robbery at the Carniceria Contreras on Todd Road in Santa Rosa.

All four men were arrested within days of the incident.

Lopez-Castillo admitted he opened fire on DeJesus in the robbery, prosecutors said.

With Lopez Castillo's plea, all four men have been convicted in the killing.

Juan Ramon Lopez-Castillo pleaded guilty in late 2012 to a conviction carrying a sentence of 25 years to life.

Jose Caraballo-Mejias and Alberto Lopez-Barraza were found guilty in jury trials last fall and are serving life sentences without parole. Both men rejected offers from prosecutors for lighter sentences.

“This is the culmination of an outstanding investigation by the Sheriff’s Office that brought to justice the men who set up the victim for a sale of marijuana when they actually intended to rob him at gunpoint,” District Attorney Ravitch said in a prepared statement.

“We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who engage in violent conduct in our community, and hope the resolution of this matter brings peace to the victim’s family.”