An Oct. 21 sentencing date has been set in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for the Santa Maria man convicted of murder after a judge Wednesday ruled on some lingering legal matters.
Earlier this month, a jury convicted Kevin Medrano, 30, of first-degree murder for the Feb. 4, 2023, fatal shooting of Robert “Bobby” Valencia, 40, in Santa Maria.
The jury also found true allegations that Medrano personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing death.
At approximately 11:45 p.m. Feb. 4, 2023, Medrano and another person approached a home on North Railroad Avenue and fired guns when Valencia went to the front door. Six shots were fired into the home, killing Valencia and injuring another person.
The criminal case was built through an extensive investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department and involved a significant amount of circumstantial and digital evidence.
Investigators canvassed the area to collect surveillance footage from homes and businesses. That evidence was used along with Flock camera data, cell phone location records, social media messages and phone calls, and firearms evidence.
They used information to reconstruct Medrano’s movements before and after the shooting, tracking Medrano’s vehicle through Santa Maria and then walking to the North Railroad residence just minutes before the shooting.
Authorities also presented cell phone evidence to show that Medrano’s phone was turned off during the approximately 15-minute period surrounding the murder.
Medrano was arrested in October 2023 following the months-long investigation.
The trial started with jury selection in May with the verdict reached Sept. 4 in Judge Kristy Imel’s courtroom.
On Wednesday, the judge ruled on some remaining charges and allegations, finding Medrano guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and also determining aggravating factors existed.
“This was an incredibly difficult case that required investigators and prosecutors to piece together a tremendous amount of circumstantial evidence to show what happened that night,” said District Attorney John Savrnoch in a statement.
He also noted the work of Santa Maria Police Detective Brian Santiago who led the investigation.
“His dedication, persistence, and countless hours spent putting the pieces of this case together were instrumental in reaching this result. The Santa Maria Police Department’s persistence in locating and analyzing surveillance footage, digital evidence, cell phone records, and other evidence was critical to this conviction.”
Additionally, Savrnoch highlighted SMPD Investigative Specialist Javier Mendez for his extensive work on the mapping and surveillance evidence and Skylar Eckerfield of the California Highway Patrol’s Computer Crimes Division for his work on the digital evidence.
Senior Deputy District Attorneys Cathy Martin and Bryant Estep prosecuted the case.
“This truly was a team effort,” Savrnoch added. “I am grateful to Cathy Martin and Bryant Estep for the enormous amount of work they put into presenting this case to the jury, and to everyone from our office and our law enforcement partners who worked behind the scenes to bring this case to trial.”
He also recognized the work of Victim Witness Advocate Bianett Garcia for supporting Valencia’s family throughout this nearly three-year process “with tremendous compassion and consistency.
“Most importantly, we hope this verdict brings some measure of justice to Bobby’s family and loved ones,” Savrnoch said.
Medrano faces 50 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced.
The sentencing hearing will trail two other pending felony cases Medrano picked up while he has been 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 person in custody.
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.