Crime & Safety
Judge Lifts No-Photo Order in Homicide Case
The Sentinel newspaper challenged last week's ruling, allowing photos taken in court to be published at 5 p.m. Monday
A judge's order barring media from publishing photos of three suspects in a drive-by homicide was lifted at 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
The Sentinel challenged Judge Stephen Sillman's order, made at . The order applied to all media present, including Watsonville Patch and the Register Pajaronian newspaper.
Fernando Martin Mendoza-Avila, a 21-year-old from Live Oak, was gunned down while walking on the Freedom Boulevard overcrossing at Highway 1.
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Alfredo Alanis Garcia, 21, of Prunedale is accused of driving the car involved—his own gray Honda sedan. Rafael Barron, 20, of Las Lomas allegedly was a passenger and Christopher Herrera, 21, of Prunedale is accused of firing the deadly shots, according to investigators.
All are due back in court June 19 to enter pleas. They are charged with homicide, gang participation and gun crimes. They are being held without bail.
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For all of Patch's coverage of the deadly drive-by shooting, click here.
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