Overview
- U.S. District Judge William Hayes imposed mandatory life sentences on two hostage-taking counts and 35 years on a drug-trafficking killing count, all to run concurrently.
- The judge called Patron the victim’s executioner and told him, “You literally walked the victim to his death,” as the victim’s mother urged that he carry the weight of his actions for life.
- Defense counsel argued a life term for an 18-year-old first offender violates the Eighth Amendment, and she said Patron will appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Prosecutors said the abduction and killing followed a methamphetamine dispute, with kidnappers torturing the 18-year-old and demanding cash or drugs as ransom.
- Trial evidence included surveillance video of the kidnapping, Facebook communications, a bracelet recovered from the scene, and call and WhatsApp logs documenting ransom demands.