Bid for a New Trial
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$1 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • BAKERSFIELD.COM TBC MEDIA ADVICE 29 • COMICS 30 • EYE STREET 17 • NATION & WORLD 13 • OBITUARIES 10 • OPINION 15 • PUZZLES 32 • SPORTS 34 • STOCKS 14 • TV 28 • WEATHER 12 ‘AMERICA’S PASTOR’ The Rev. Billy Graham has died at age 99; local faith leaders refl ect on his legacy as most widely Sabrina Limon, left, and her attorney, Sharon heard Christian evangelist Beth Marshall, listen Wednesday as Chris in modern history PAGE 9 Wilson and Lydia Marrero speak about their brother, Robert Limon, during Sabrina Limon’s sentencing in Kern County Superior Court. CHILD HOMICIDE HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN Suspects in killing of boy, 3, could face the death penalty BID FOR A NEW TRIAL: LOCAL | 5 THIS WEEKEND 32nd annual Home & Garden Show begins Friday at fairgrounds DENIED EYE STREET | 22 Judge sentences Sabrina Limon to 25 years to life BASKETBALL Stockdale girls top in prison in the murder of her husband LOCAL | 2 Garces in fi rst round of D-I playoffs SPORTS | 34 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES TO REPORT A NEWS TIP 59/37 392-5777, 800-953-5353 or [email protected] 395-7384, 800-540-0646 or [email protected] 2 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, February 22, 2018 LOCAL Sabrina Limon denied a new trial, sentenced to 25-years-to-life prison term BY HAROLD PIERCE ton Northern Santa Fe train [email protected] ONLINE yard in Tehachapi, where Kern County Supe- Robert Limon worked, and Videos and more photos rior Court Judge John R. shooting him to death. at Bakersfield.com Brownlee denied convicted Prosecutors said that Sa- murderer Sabrina Limon a brina Limon conspired new trial Wednesday and with Hearn to plan her attached at the end of their sentenced her to 25 years to husband’s murder. Jurors sentence, you’re not getting life in prison for the death agreed, deliberating for less out of prison,” Marshall of her husband, Robert than six hours in Septem- said after the sentencing, Limon. ber before returning with a visibly dismayed, but reso- Limon, who looked as guilty verdict. lute in appealing the deci- though she was about to According to Hearn, he sion to deny a new trial. cry as her family entered and Limon hatched this “I told the family this isn’t the courtroom Wednes- plot: kill Robert Limon and over,” Marshall said. “We day, showed no emotion then get married so that are not done.” when her sentence was Hearn can become stepfa- She vowed that she announced. ther to Limon’s kids. Hearn would take the case to the On the low end, Limon’s said he and Limon wanted California Supreme Court 25-year and 16 month them to be raised by “godly on appeal, arguing that sentence is roughly the parents.” Limon’s former trial attor- same amount of time that Limon maintained ney, Richard Terry, failed to will be served by Limon’s during her testimony that, properly prepare his client lover, Redlands firefighter although she was having an before she took the witness Jonathan Hearn, who ad- affair with Hearn, she knew HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN stand. Her testimony was mitted to shooting and nothing about a plot to kill Sabrina Limon, left, was denied a new trial by Judge John R. Brownlee. With her “nothing short of abysmal,” killing Robert Limon in a her husband. attorney, Sharon Beth Marshall, by her side, Limon was sentenced to 25 years to life in Marshall has said. Tehachapi trainyard where Jurors found true that Li- prison in the murder of her husband, Robert Limon. At least for now, the sen- he worked in 2014. He later mon, 38, told Hearn how to tencing brings to close a testified that he and Limon get to her husband’s work- high-profile month-long conspired together to kill court Wednesday during cannot comprehend.” the sentence, Limon’s attor- place and what hours he court case that involved Robert in exchange for a an emotional hearing be- “Though we are all glad ney, Sharon Beth Marshall, would be working the day sordid affairs among swing- 25-year and four month fore Sabrina Limon was to see this come to an end, said she’s not optimistic he was found shot to death. ing couples, twisted takes plea deal. sentenced. we do not rejoice and cel- about the possibility her It was also true, jurors on religion and biblical “No amount of time Robert Limon’s other sis- ebrate,” Wilson said. “We client would be granted found, that Limon used a verses, claims of poisoned Sabrina spends in prison ter, Chris Wilson, described move forward and have parole or ever again see life disposable “burner” phone pudding and deceit. will ever bring my brother the last three years as “a faith that the judicial sys- outside of prison walls. to communicate with The case even became back,” Lydia Marrero, Rob- journey filled with heart- tem has prevailed.” “I tell my clients that Hearn to avoid detection by the subject of a book — ert Limon’s sister, told the ache and pain most people Despite the low-end of anytime they have an ‘L’ law enforcement. “Better Off Dead” — and While both Hearn and attracted the attention of Limon are serving prison Dateline NBC, which aired terms, it’s the Limon chil- an episode on the case dren — Robby and Leanne called “Secrets in Silver — who are the unintended Lakes,” referring to the victims, Brownlee said lakefront community in ahead of sentencing. Both Helendale where the Limon children wrote letters to family lived. Brownlee begging him to Hearn and Limon had grant their mother proba- been carrying on an affair tion, instead of a prison behind Robert Limon’s term. back for months. Hearn “My mom is one of the confessed to traveling, on Aug. 17, 2014, to a Burling- Please see LIMON | 3 ½ÌiÌ ÞÕÀ `à ÃÕvviÀ Ì i i>`>V i v «ÀL>Ìit *," / - 8* -6 / " -1 6" *," / t *>Ãà ÞÕÀ >ÃÃiÌà ի `i>Ì U*ÀÛ>ÌiÞ U+ÕVÞ U7Ì ÕÌ VÕÀÌÃÕ«iÀÛà 7 Þ ÃÌ >}ÀÕ« Ãi>À Ü i ÞÕ V> >Ûi >«iÀÃ> VÃÕÌ>̶ > vÀ ÞÕÀ vÀii VÃÕÌ>Ì Ì`>Þt >««iÃ Ì iÜiÃÌ>Ìi «>à ޮ ` `½Ì vÀ}iÌ Ì >à >LÕÌ ÕÀ -iÀ `ÃVÕÌÃt >Ü"vwVi v ,ÃiÌÌ> ° ,ii` {ää >vÀ> Ûi° N/ÜiÀ ] -Ìi° Ó£ä ÈÈ£® ÎÇÇ£nÈ htÜÜÜtp://°ÀÃiÌÌ>Àii`>www.rosettanrÜ°eedlaVw.com Õ«Coupon exiÝ«ÀiÃpres 2/ÉÎäÉ£Ç28/18 Thursday, February 22, 2018 The Bakersfield Californian 3 XXXXXXXXLOCAL focus on the health and Two arrested so far in Fox Theater stabbing; LIMON wellbeing of the children. Continued from PAGE 2 It’s imperative you come more suspects may be at large, prosecutor says best people I know. She’s together. Turn your an- loving and loves God. ger toward each other to BY HAROLD PIERCE Police responded to the She loved my dad and we love and guide these two [email protected] downtown concert venue do everything together,” children.” Attorneys postponed the just before 11 p.m. after Robby wrote. “I need my Despite that, the family arraignment of two men ar- receiving reports of a large mom in my life … I would appeared to split up after rested this week in connec- fight that broke out outside do anything to get her leaving the courtroom tion with a deadly stabbing the theater. home … Please help make — Robert’s family and outside of a Bone-Thugs-N- BPD officials said that that happen.” supporters headed down Harmony both Ugues and Villegas As moved as Brownlee a stairwell to the back of show had attended the hip-hop appeared to be by the the building, and Sabrina’s Sunday concert prior to the inci- children, he couldn’t family congregated at the evening dent — something Fox The- reduce the sentence, he courthouse steps. at the Fox ater officials said they had said. Julie Cordova, Sabrina Theater. not yet confirmed Tuesday. “Letters from the de- Limon’s sister, has been Those FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN Vikki Peterson, first fense reiterate that the caring for her two kids at suspects, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer vice president of the Fox defendant is a kind and her Camarillo home since Efrain comforts the family of Kasey Villegas after a brief Foundation Executive loving woman incapable Limon was arrested in dispute erupted outside Kern County Superior Court Ugues, 32, Ugues Board, said Tuesday that of this crime, however 12 January 2017. and Jesse between them and supporters of Jesse Reyes and Efrain all concert attendees were jurors sat in that box and “Right now we’re not Reyes, 33, Ugues, the men who faces charges in Villegas’ death. screened by metal detec- convicted her of murder,” making any contact,” are sched- tors, and that those in- Brownlee said. Marrero said outside of uled to be old Kasey Villegas. Outside of the court- volved in the fatal stabbing In an emotional plea, the courthouse. “They’re charged But more suspects could house Wednesday, family could not have brought Brownlee urged members not making any effort to next week be on the loose, Supervising and friends attending the weapons into the theater of both sides of the fam- reach out to us to let us be at Kern Deputy District Attorney arraignment for Ugues and undetected. ily to come together for part of the family and be County Cynthia Zimmer said out- Reyes were involved in a Both Ugues and Reyes Robby and Leanne. part of Leanne and Rob- Superior side of court Wednesday.