A Santa Maria Superior Court jury on Friday morning found a 30-year-old man guilty of first-degree murder and not guilty of attempted murder for a February 2023 double shooting in Santa Maria.
Kevin Medrano, 30, of Santa Maria, was accused of being one of two shooters in February 2023 at a home in the 400 block of North Railroad Avenue.
The shootings killed Robert “Bobby” Valencia, 40, and left a second man with three gunshot injuries.
Medrano was arrested in October 2023, after police officers conducted surveillance collecting information about his typical driving patterns and other habits. The prosecution team also presented evidence about cellphone activity during the trial.
Police officers contend West Park gang member Medrano and his good friend, Irvin Gabino, showed up at the residence intending to kill a rival gang member, but ended up shooting two other men.
But the defense maintained throughout the trial that authorities had the wrong man and noted the lack of physical evidence including clothing or weapon to connect Medrano to the crime.
The trial in Judge Kristy Imel’s courtroom began in May with jury selection and opening statements in mid-July.
Jurors began deliberating the afternoon of Aug. 28 and returned Monday and then Friday morning.
As the court clerk read the panel’s decision Friday morning, defense attorney Michael Scott briefly rested his head in his hands after patting his client on the back.
Jurors also found several special allegations true including that Medrano intentionally discharged a firearm and intentionally used the weapon to commit murder.
But jurors rejected the prosecution team’s contention Medrano participated in the shooting due to his gang involvement.
Under state laws, some allegations will be considered after the original verdicts have been reached, including whether the new conviction becomes a second strike under California’s Three Strikes Sentencing Law.
While the same jurors typically consider those allegations, for Medrano’s case, attorneys on both sides agreed to leave it to Judge Kristy Imel to decide.
The attorneys will return Sept. 9 for that portion of the trial and then set a date for Medrano’s sentencing hearing.
The man alleged to be the second shooter, Gabino, was not charged in the case, but is in jail facing criminal charges for two other Santa Maria homicides that occurred in February 2022 and October 2022.
Medrano’s legal troubles aren’t limited to 2023 homicide case.
While in jail custody, he has been charged with being a prisoner in possession of a weapon, described as a 7-inch ice-pick-style shank. The accusation stems from 2025.
Earlier this summer, Medrano was one of seven jail inmates named in a criminal complaint for an attack on another prisoner.
In that newest case, the three felony charges include assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit a crime and false imprisonment.
He also faces two allegations or sentencing enhancements including that the offenses meant another strike and that the incident involved gang activity.
Medrano remains in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail where he being held without bail.