Lompoc homicide suspect Walter Morales, right, is led away in handcuffs following his arrest Friday evening on South Thornburg Street in Santa Maria following a seven-hour standoff with about 30 officers from three law enforcement agencies.
Morales
Walter Morales, 26, is taken into custody Friday evening after a seven-hour standoff in Santa Maria.
A Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered no bail for a Lompoc man suspected in the shooting death of a U.S. Army soldier who evaded capture for six to eight months in Mexico before his arrest in Santa Maria.
Walter Morales, 26, an alleged gang member, is charged with first-degree murder and several enhancements in connection to the killing of Marlon Brumfield, 22, an active duty soldier who was visiting home while on leave from Germany.
Morales is also suspected in two shooting incidents in Lompoc on July 11 and has yet to be charged.
He did not enter a plea or appear in court Tuesday, either on video or in person, due to unspecified medical reasons after being quarantined in a negative pressure housing area at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail following his arrest Friday.
When queried about whether Morales had contracted COVID-19, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said the department does not disclose coronavirus information specific to individual inmates.
During the hearing Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Gustavo Lavayen heard arguments from attorneys, who appeared via video conference in a Santa Maria courtroom, which had limited seating and required masks for spectators due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Donahue requested no bail for Morales due to past weapons- and domestic violence-related charges, citing his escape to Mexico after the shooting and calling him a flight risk.
Donahue also referred to the autopsy report, which documents that Brumfield had been shot four times, claiming that evidence indicates Morales was the triggerman.
"They just shot him in the head for no reason and left him on the sidewalk," Donahue said. "We have an individual [capable] of great violence and has every intention of fleeing again."
Dillon Forsyth, who was appointed as Morales' attorney, said his client should have bail set according to the schedule for non-capital crimes, arguing that he was in no position to respond to Donahue's request due to a lack of information, including a police report.
A Lompoc judge last week upheld the charges against a man accused of the gang-related killing of a 15-year-old boy in October 2019.
After ordering no bail, the judge continued the arraignment. Morales is set to appear remotely from the Santa Barbara County Jail on July 28 for a hearing that will be held in Superior Court in Lompoc.
Santa Maria Police and Santa Barbara County sheriff's officers, including SWAT team members, arrested Morales, who surrendered shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday following a nearly seven-hour standoff at a residence in the 1500 block of South Thornburg Street.
Morales was arrested nearly a year after the killing of Brumfield, who was shot near the intersection of North A Street and East Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, according to Donahue.
A second suspect, 25-year-old Francisco Gutierrez-Ortega, turned himself over to Santa Maria Police at the urging of his family more than a week after the shooting, Lompoc Police said.
Gutierrez-Ortega was charged with first-degree murder for the benefit of a street gang in September 2019 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Santa Maria court on July 31. He pleaded not guilty.
Tuesday, July 28
INCIDENT — At 2:16 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 400 block of North G Street.
INCIDENT — At 5:25 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 300 block of North Z Street.
Monday, July 27
INCIDENT — At 12:48 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a pursuit in the area of West Ocean Avenue and North M Street.
INCIDENT — At 8:06 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a homicide in the 300 block alley of North N and O streets.
Sunday, July 26
INCIDENT — At 12:31 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 700 block of North D Street.
INCIDENT — At 4:56 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a gun in the 600 block of North Fourth Street.
Saturday, July 25
INCIDENT — At 1:26 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the area of North K Street and West laurel Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 10:24 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 1000 block of West Apricot Avenue.
ARREST — At 5:20 a.m., Moises Partida-Cervantes, 23, was arrested in the area of Flordale and West Ocean avenues and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of hit and run resulting in death or injury, driving under the influence resulting in bodily injury, kidnapping, attempted murder and violation of a court order.
Lompoc Police received two reports of fireworks.
Friday, July 24
INCIDENT — At 6:11 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 1500 block of West Lemon Avenue.
INCIDENT — At 8:44 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a weapon violation in the area of North D Street and east Airport Avenue.
Wednesday, July 22
INCIDENT — At 1:28 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired near the area of North T Street and West College Avenue.
Tuesday, July 21
INCIDENT — At 2:12 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of an assault on a first responder in the 100 block of Civic Center Plaza.
Monday, July 20
Lompoc Police received one report of fireworks.
Saturday, July 18
INCIDENT — At 5:41 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a shooting at a dwelling near the area of East Airport Avenue and North Fourth Street.
INCIDENT — At 8:58 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 300 block of North M Street.
INCIDENT — At 11:36 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 500 block of North G Street.
INCIDENT — At 11:40 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired near the area of East Cypress Avenue and South Second Street.
Lompoc Police received one report of fireworks.
Friday, July 17
INCIDENT — At 2:17 p.m., the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a brush fire in the 4600 block of Jalama Road.
Santa Barbara County Most Wanted
This is a list of the top active warrants put out by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office as of July 24, 2020.
If you believe you have information on any of the subject’s listed on the Sheriff's webpage or Facebook page, you can contact Detective Toedte directly at the number below.
Phone Number: 805-681-4142 Fax Number: 805-681-5346
Email: tet2425@sbsheriff.org
Click here , to leave an anonymous tip
Stephanie Herrera
Wanted for First Degree Burglary
Name: Stephanie Herrera
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 7-7-91
Height: 5-4
Weight: 127
Warrant No: WR039470
Date Issued: 6-18-20
Bail Amount: $50,000.00
Charges: OFF=459 PC F 1ST D OFF=459 PC F 1ST D
Paul Garcia
Wanted for Assault with a deadly weapon
Name: Paul Garcia
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 5-24-77
Height: 5-8
Weight: 180
Build:Complexion: Hispanic Male Adult. Brown Hair. Brown Eyes
Warrant No: WR039537
Date Issued: 7-2-20
Bail Amount: $70,000.00
Charges: OFF=PC978.5 OFF=245(A)(1) PC F
Alejandro Mora
Wanted for Robbery and felony resisting arrest
Name: Alejandro Mora
Also Known As: Alejandro Navarrete-Mora
Date of Birth: 8-26-96
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Complexion: Hispanic male adult, black hair, brown eyes
Warrant No: WR039419
Date Issued: 6-23-20
Bail Amount: $50,000.00
Charges: OFF=211 PC F 2ND D OFF=69 PC F
Jesus Rojas Vega
Wanted for Possess and sales of controlled substances
Name: Jesus Rojas Vega
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 7-9-93
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Build:
Complexion: Hispanic male adult, black hair, brown eyes
Warrant No: WR039527
Date Issued: 5-29-20
Bail Amount: $250,000.00
Charges: OFF=PC978.5 OFF=11351 HS F OFF=11352(A) HS F
Juan Arellano
Wanted for Terrorist threats / Felony domestic battery / Child Endangerment
Name: Juan Arellano
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 1-24-78
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Build:
Complexion: Hispanic Male Adult. Brown Hair. Brown Eyes
Warrant No: WR039509
Date Issued: 7-7-20
Bail Amount: $.00
Charges: OFF=PC978.5 OFF=422 PC F OFF=422-664 PC F OFF=273.5(A) PC F OFF=273A(B) PC M
Rene Lopez
Wanted for Vehicle theft / possess stolen property / possess controlled substances
Name: Rene Lopez
Also Known As: Rene Castellanos
Date of Birth: 7-30-67
Height: 5-5
Weight: 220
Build:
Complexion: Hispanic Male Adult. Brown Hair. Brown Eyes
Warrant No: WR039605
Date Issued: 7-14-20
Bail Amount: **NO BAIL**Charges: OFF=10851(A) VC F OFF=496D(A) PC F
Hector Lara
Wanted for Assault with a deadly weapon
Name: Hector Lara
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 3-10-91
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Build:
Complexion: Hispanic male adult, black hair, brown eyes
Warrant No: WR039532
Date Issued: 7-6-20
Bail Amount: $30,000.00
Charges: OFF=PC978.5 OFF=245(A)(4) PC F
Jesseca Butkovic
Wanted for Felony evading an officer, causing injury
Name: Jesseca Butkovic
Also Known As: Jesseca Berthiaume
Date of Birth: 10-15-89
Height: 5-5
Weight: 160
Warrant No: WARR#=WR039177
Date Issued: 10-15-89
Bail Amount: $100,000.00
Charges: OFF=2800.3 VC F OFF=2800.4 VC F OFF=2800.2(A) VC F OFF=12500(A) VC M
Luis Alvarado
Wanted for Probation violation / felony resisting arrest
Name: Luis Alvarado
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 2-27-74
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Warrant No: WARR#=WR039275
Date Issued: 5-6-20
Bail Amount: None
Charges: OFF=PC1203.2 OFF=69 PC F
Anthony Navarro
Wanted for felony battery, false imprisonment, possess controlled substance
Name: Anthony Navarro
Also Known As:
Date of Birth: 7-18-95
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140
Build: 7-18-95
Warrant No: WR039473
Date Issued: 6-18-20
Bail Amount: $75,000.00
Charges: OFF=PC978.5 OFF=273.5(A) PC F OFF=236 PC M
Wednesday, July 29
INCIDENT — At 9:49 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of shots heard/fired in the 100 block of North M Street.
Thursday, July 30
INCIDENT — At 10:41 a.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person brandishing a weapon in the area of West Ocean Avenue and South R Street.
INCIDENT — At 4:35 p.m., Lompoc Police received a report of a person with a gun in the area of North F Street and East College Avenue.
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