Christy Pena - Sentencing a Killer | Books By Ed Mitchell

Anger

I never expected to witness the sentencing of an illegal immigrant for killing a fourteen-old girl, Christy Pena, within six miles of my home. But a few days ago I supported a friend at the Salinas, California courthouse. She was a long-time neighbor of the Piña family and vowed to make a statement before the killer was sent to prison.

It took over thirty years and unrelenting determination of the girl’s father, John Piña, to see the predator arrested and tried before a judge. The criminal was found guilty of kidnapping, raping, torturing, killing, and mutilating John’s daughter in 1990. Before the killer was finished he dumped her into an artichoke field near Castroville, California and filled her mouth with mud and tossed dirt on her to cover his actions. That including 23 puncture wounds in her body. It was not his first sexual assault on girls, nor was it his last.

artichoke field, victim's body, soft borders, illegal aliens, — Artichoke Fields near North Monterey County, CA

The Sheriff’s department quickly suspected him because he was a sex offender who lived in Castroville and several years before he had been found guilty of forcing a young girl to have sex with him. But the suspect disappeared into Mexico. Plus, the DNA forensic evidence found with the girl’s body was not accurate enough in 1990 for the prosecuting attorney to assure the family of a conviction.

There was another assault two years later after the predator returned, but a local man came upon the attack and saved the girl. Again he fled to Mexico and over the years fought against extradition. But the advancement of DNA analysis, the Monterey County law enforcement, the FBI, and President Trump led to the killer being extradited and returned to this county.

Now, in the courtroom my friend, Carol Blum sat beside the mother and other family members who planned to provide victim impact statements before final sentencing. Those statements had a similar structure and were delivered with anger and sadness. You are not a human! This is how you hurt me and others! May you suffer in prison!

I’m not being critical. Such emotional statements are common during sentencing of violent criminals.

Grace
But Carol’s statement was different. While struggling not to cry, she said:

“I was a neighbor to the Piña family. Three days after Christy was born I held her in my arms. I saw her often because she grew up with my children. She was a bubbly girl. One day she came to me and said, ‘Christmas is coming and I want to buy presents for my family. Can you give me a job so I can earn some money?’

“I had her do chores for me around the house. After she earned her first check she returned a few days later and handed me a present she had purchased. It was a cup with bears on it and the words ‘I love you’. That was the kind of girl that Christy was.”

In a few words, Carol brought Christy Sue Piña into the courtroom and celebrated her life. The statement had a distinct impact on all the friends and family. They cried. Even the judge tried to hide how the words struck her.

Integrity
Following the victim statements, the judge sentenced the predator for two crimes he was guilty of. Twenty-five years to life for the crime against Christy. Seven years for assaulting another girl.

After the judge ended the trial, a county representative led all of the family, friends, and enforcement personnel who had helped over the years on the Piña case, into a private room. The group included the lead prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Lana Nassoura, an active FBI agent, and a retired FBI agent who volunteered to work the case. Additionally in the room was the sheriff department’s detective Shaneen Jorganson who never let go of the hunt for and conviction of the predator.

Such a gathering is standard practice. This one was intended to mark the end of the journey the group had been on to close Christy’s case. It also helps people start transitioning from victim to survivor, as well as letting any lingering anger dissipate, and any lingering questions be answered.

As the process seemed to be almost over I offered an observation. “My experience with the legal system has taught me that any benefit or protection we receive from our laws is only as good as the integrity of those who enforce them. In this room we have a number of people who showed great integrity including, family members, the sheriff detectives, the FBI agents, and the prosecutors. Today after you leave you should all be proud of what you did for Christy.”

A Better Way
Before the group departed, John Piña announced that he was going to continue encouraging young offenders held in the local Juvenile Hall to walk away from crime and move toward a better life.

Clearly, for decades John has demonstrated grace and integrity for his daughter, for his family, and for his community. I expect someday he will be rewarded and reach heaven and be with his daughter.

Christy Sue Piña is buried in King City, California.