DA Media Releases

May 22, 2023

Concluding a Court Trial today, People v. Antonio Gorena CR-22-00365, Mr. Gorena was convicted by the Court of a violation of Business & Professions Code §7028(a) Contracting Without License, a misdemeanor, Business & Professions Code §7027.1 Contractor Advertising Without License, a misdemeanor, and Business and Professions Code §7159(a)(3) Excessive Down Payment on Home Improvement Contract, a misdemeanor. 

The matter was initially set for Jury Trial, which the defendant on the day of trial decided to waive, and proceeded to trial by the Court.  The case was tried by Deputy District Attorney Victor Alfaro, who obtained his first set of misdemeanor convictions after trial. 

The defendant was sentenced to 1 year Court Probation, 30 days County Jail Eligible for programs, ordered to obtain a Contractor’s License, and to make restitution to the victim in the amount of $32,500.  The case was investigated by California State Contractor’s License Board and Investigator Brian Kauth

April 26, 2023

Yesterday, April 25, 2023, a Parole Hearing was held regarding Jose L. Hernandez DoB: 10-01-1960.  Mr. Hernandez was convicted of 30 counts of Forcible Lewd Act on a Person under 14 years if age in violation of PC §288(b) in 1994 for conduct occurring in from 1987 through 1991, he was also convicted of 3 other related offenses.  In 1994, the defendant was sentenced to 232 years in State Prison.  Due to changes in the law, the defendant became entitled to a parole hearing.  The District Attorney’s Office OPPOSED parole for Mr. Hernandez given the substantial risk to public safety we believe he continues to pose.

At the Parole Hearing, the commissioners from the Board of Parole Hearing found that Mr. Hernandez did continue to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety and as a result Mr. Hernandez’s parole was DENIED for a period of three (3) years. 

April 7, 2023

Yesterday, April 6, 2023, Bobby Viramontes, 22, Hollister was sentenced to 14 years State Prison for a violation of Penal Code §203 Mayhem with a Special Allegation that the defendant personally used a firearm in the commission of the offense.  The case involved a shooting that occurred in the area of Circle Drive in Hollister and was investigated by Hollister PD.

 The offense is a violent felony under Cal. Penal Code §667.5(c)(2) which results in a limitation of earning “good-time/work-time” custody credits.  In reaching the sentence, the severity of the offense as well as the age of the offender were considered.

January 31, 2023:

The People of the State of California v. Manuel Martinez Vasquez

Manuel Martinez Vasquez pled guilty to second- degree murder in the death of Sarah Villar, DUI with injury for Tayler Schmitt and to other DUI- related charges. On October 6, 2022, Judge Breen sentenced Vasquez the maximum sentence allowed, 19 years to life in prison for all charges.

On June 20, 2021, Tayler Schmitt, 33, and his soon to be wife, Sarah Villar, 32, were walking their dog along Sunnyslope Road when, according to Hollister Police Department, as they approached Sunnyslope Lane, Vasquez, while intoxicated, drove off the north side of the road, across the two-lane road and struck the couple, killing Villar and injuring Schmitt.  

The People of the State of California v. David Anthony Pequeno 

On February 25, 2022 David Anthony Pequeno was found guilty of four counts of felony arson and nine counts of felony vandalism as well as four misdemeanor vandalism charges. The case was heard in a court trial presided over by Judge Gilbert Brown. After the verdict on the charges, Judge Brown further found the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity. The court based its decision on psychological evaluations prepared by two court-appointed doctors and an additional independent evaluation commissioned by the District Attorney’s Office. 

Pequeno was accused of setting fire to two large commercial buildings in downtown Hollister in the early morning hours of November 2, 2020. Multiple businesses were affected by the fires including Cheung Sheng Chinese Restaurant and She’s Consignment and Gifts. The vandalism charges were based on multiple tire slashing incidents that occurred in various areas around Hollister on the same day.

On April 21, 2020, Judge Hector Ramon ordered Pequeno to be committed to the California State Hospital for up to 13 years and six months. 

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Hollister Police Department, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, the Hollister Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their hard work and dedication in the investigation of this case.

The People of the State of California v. Sergio Uriel Hernandez
Hernandez was given a nine year State Prison sentence with lifetime 290 registry on July 28, 2022

On March 25,2022, subsequent to a Court Trial, a Judge found Hernandez guilty of one count of Lewd Act Upon a Child, age 15 years old, and one count of Sodomy by use of force on the 15 year old victim. 

The offenses occurred in October and November of 2017. In committing the offenses, the defendant took advantage of the vulnerability and trust of the victim and the friendship of the victim's family.

The People of the State of California v. Manuel Josiah Campa 

On February 23, 2022 a San Benito County Superior Court Jury found defendant Manuel Campa guilty of the Second Degree Murder of Christopher Jacobs Jr. 

The matter came on for sentencing May 9, 2022 and the defendant was sentenced to 15 years to life for the base term for the Murder with an additional year for the special allegation for the use of a deadly weapon.  The total sentence was 16 years to life.  Under current law, the defendant’s first parole eligibility date should be January 1, 2037.  The defendant’s suitability for parole will be determined by the parole board and will depend upon several factors including but not limited to the defendant’s conduct while incarcerated. 

The Hollister Police Department and the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, United Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), California Department of Justice, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office, the California Superior Court and the Jury for all their hard work in reaching this outcome. 

The District Attorney’s Office expresses it condolences to the Jacob’s family on the loss of their son.  The pain in losing a child is deep and long-lasting, it is not just the loss of the child but also, the hoped-for future contained with that child.  We know that “justice” as it arrives feels hollow as you still miss your son.  We grieve with you and desire you to know that we will hold Christopher Jacob’s memory within us as well for the rest of our lives.

The People of the State of California v. Jose Antonio Barajas 
Barajas was sentenced to 47 yrs to life on April 11, 2022 

On January 14, 2022, a jury found Barajas guilty of First Degree Murder in the killing of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas, Attempted Murder and Kidnapping for events that occurred in August of 2014. On August 1, 2014, Barajas forced Gutierrez to drive him around Hollister looking for Gabriel Orozco who was driving another vehicle. Barajas fired shots at the occupied vehicle hitting and killing Zendejas, who was riding in the back seat. Barajas fled the U.S. after the shooting and was located and extradited from Mexico on July 12, 2018. A jury had found Barajas guilty of shooting at an inhabited vehicle, earlier in the year.