A Santa Maria man has pleaded not guilty in Santa Barbara County Superior Court to murder and other charges following a fatal shooting last summer.

Samuel Reyes Espinoza, 23, was charged with the crimes nearly six months after the shooting death of Felix Ivan Antonio, 19, of Santa Maria.

Police said the Aug. 14 shooting occurred overnight in an alley in the 200 block of West Newlove Drive, where the victim was killed while sitting in his vehicle.

In addition to first-degree murder, Espinoza was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

The criminal complaint also included a number of special allegations or sentencing enhancements, including committing a felony for the benefit of a street gang, possession of a firearm by a felon, street gang activity by a convicted felon and that the killing would involve a second strike under the Three Strikes Sentencing Law.

In 2019, Espinoza was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and firearm-related charges, but he pleaded to lesser charges.

Since then, he has picked up two misdemeanor cases plus another felony case along with the homicide case.

After pleading not guilty in an arraignment hearing Monday, Espinoza is scheduled to return to court Feb. 16, with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for the next day. 

Espinoza remains in the custody of the Northern Branch Jail with bail set at nearly $5.2 million.