Judge sentences man to 15 years in prison in East Bay kidnapping and murder case
An Alameda County Superior Court judge on Wednesday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for strangling a San Leandro man and dumping his body on the side of a road in Castro Valley in 2021.
OAKLAND, California. – An Alameda County Superior Court judge on Wednesday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for strangling a San Leandro man and dumping his body on the side of a road in Castro Valley in 2021.
Benjamin Hemmann’s sister, Laurie Hanson, pleaded with Judge Scott Patton to reject the deal and instead requested a jury trial.
“I don’t think I’ve even started healing,” she said. “It’s changed me as a person. It’s changed my family.”
Patton expressed sympathy for Hemmann’s family, but said that “a trial would mean there would be a possibility that the jury would not be able to reach a consensus or that there would be no conviction at all.”
He then sentenced 45-year-old Richardo Onteveros to between 15 years and life in prison; he will be eligible for parole after serving about 85% of his sentence.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office had negotiated a deal with Onteveros, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
During his prison sentence, Onteveros converted to Islam and changed his last name to Ali.
Two other defendants were charged in this case.
Patton also sentenced Bryan Wu to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to burglary.
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The third defendant, Kevin Woodruff, will be sentenced on July 2. He pleaded guilty to burglary.
Outside the courtroom, Onteveros’ defense attorney Steve Deflippis told KTVU that this case has a “long history” and there is much more to it than has been portrayed in the media.
“As the judge said, there are risks both ways,” Deflippis said. “It could have been exactly the same outcome as here today. I think it probably would have been about the same outcome.”
After his conviction, Onteveros apologized to Hemmann’s family, who apparently did not feel comforted by this.
In fact, Hanson had stated before the hearing that she was outraged by the deal and now supported the removal of District Attorney Pamela Price.
“This is worse than my brother,” she said. “This is worse than any single victim. This is a crime epidemic.”
