P. v. Castaneda CA5
In 2012, appellant Nicholas Junior Castaneda was tried with codefendants Steven Anthony Pack and Jose Tito Barajas for the murder of Kevin Argueta and the attempted murder of several other individuals. Castaneda was convicted of second degree murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, grossly negligent discharge of a firearm, and actively participating in a criminal street gang. The court sentenced Castaneda to prison for a total of 20 years eight months to life.
In 2018, the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill No. 1437) into law, restricting the circumstances under which a person can be liable for murder under the felony murder rule or the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015.)
In 2019, Castaneda filed a petition to have his murder conviction vacated pursuant to section Penal Code section 1170.95.
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