| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 7:12 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||
Sultan brothers plead guilty in death of rival gang member The two face years in prison for their part in the killing of a Marysville teen who was beaten and fatally stabbed in June. EVERETT — Two Sultan brothers belonging to a small-town gang are headed to prison for the brutal murder of a rival gang member.Marco Castillo, 20, and Adolfo Castillo, 17, admitted Tuesday that they took part in the beating and stabbing death of Antonio Marks in June. Marks, 17, of Marysville, was left for dead a few feet from Sultan's City Hall. Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow on Tuesday blamed Marks' death on a gang rivalry. The Castillos and three other teens implicated in the slaying were members of the Sultan-based gang Brown Pride Soldiers, according to charging papers. Marco Castillo is suspected of being the leader, Darrow said. The gang held weekly meetings and members were expected to pay dues, he said. Marks was a member the Southland Villains, a rival gang, court papers said. He also was dating the Castillos' sister at the time of his death. Investigators learned that in May, the gang leaders made it clear they were at war with each other. They were expected to assault any rival they encountered on the street, Darrow said. “It's very clear this was a gang-related killing,” he said. A video surveillance camera captured the slaying on tape. The tape shows Marks being kicked repeatedly in the head and then stabbed several times in the chest. Marks was kicked so hard investigators found several different shoe tread patterns on his head. Authorities initially believed the head injuries contributed to his death. They now believe only the stab wounds were fatal. The brutal attack lasted 43 seconds. The Castillos pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder. Marco Castillo also admitted that he was armed with a knife at the time of the killing. The other suspects charged with second-degree murder are: Jaime Santana, 16; Ana Cary Ayala Bustos, 16; and Ivette Rico, 18, all of Sultan. All were teens at the time of the attack and were charged as adults. Santana pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder. He is expected to be sentenced next month. Rico and Bustos are scheduled to go to trial early next year. The Castillos were scheduled for a hearing last week to decide whether prosecutors would be able to use evidence gathered against them. Instead, the brothers agreed to plead guilty as charged. Marco Castillo faces up to 20 years in prison. His brother is facing 18 years. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a 12-year sentence for the older Castillo and a 10-year term for Adolfo Castillo. Marco Castillo is accused of throwing the first punch and repeatedly stabbing Marks. The attack came hours after Marks came to the Castillos' house on Cedar Street in Sultan and got into some sort of dispute with Marco Castillo. Marks left, but the teens later ran into each other on the street. Marks yelled something at the group. Marco Castillo knocked Marks to the ground. The video shows Marco Castillo standing over Marks and punching him several times. Marks didn't fight back, falling flat on his back after the first blow. Marco Castillo then backs away and the other four teenagers are seen kicking Marks in the head, prosecutors allege. The video then shows Marco Castillo stab Marks several times in the chest while the other teens continued to kick the motionless Marks in the head, court papers said. Marco Castillo allegedly told investigators he didn't intend to kill Marks but wanted to hurt him enough that he couldn't retaliate. Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. |
- FDIC gives Everett's Frontier Bank, Lynnwood's City Bank ultimatum
- Monroe girl guilty of murder in Sultan gang slaying
- Snohomish man in critical condition after gunshot to groin
- Man is sentenced to 8 years in crash that killed 4
- For once, Huskies are the bigger team
- 3 classic potato recipes for St. Patrick's Day
- Video captures trio who stole beer, knocked over elderly woman
- Hear musical firefighters on bagpipes and drums for St. Patrick’s Day
- Suspect in Everett nightclub shooting arrested in Arizona
- Frontier Financial appealing FDIC order
- Monroe girl guilty of murder in Sultan gang slaying
(39) - 16-year-old girl convicted in Sultan gang murder (13)
- Snohomish man who killed four sentenced to eight years (11)
- State changes mind on telling Darrington to move graves (11)
- Teams from Snohomish County join in search for Colton Harris-Moore on Orcas (10)
- Riders take to Community Transit's Swift buses (8)
- Everett plans big upgrades for city parks (5)
- Man is sentenced to 8 years in crash that killed 4 (5)
- Snohomish man in critical condition after gunshot to groin (5)
- Oops: Somali pirates attempt attack on Dutch warship (4)
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here
debbie larsen | Dec 16, 2009 10:19 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Since when is murder worse when its a cop? I didnt hear about this murder on the news. There wasnt a statewide manhunt. kill a cop and you might not live to see the courtroom. Kill a civilian, plead guilty and get 10 years. Gotta love the justice system.
I say take both of them and just shoot them in the head.(or send them back to mexico) It costs tons taxpayer money to keep murders alive. Bullets are relatively cheap.
christopher wallace | Dec 10, 2009 11:48 am | 1 replies | Request removal
Post reply
It's worse because law officers are not members of a criminal gang. A civilian murdered in cold blood may be a better analogy.
If a normal, productive member of society was beaten to death by members of a criminal gang, ala The Crips, it is worse, from a legal standpoint, because the productive member of society did not place himself in a position to be beaten by gang members, intentionally.
A death is not a death is not a death. There are degress and differing amounts of culpability.
Go Cougs! | Dec 16, 2009 12:43 pm | Request removal
"As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a 12-year sentence for the older Castillo and a 10-year term for Adolfo Castillo."
This is freaking incomprehensible. A plea deal? The assault was captured on VIDEO CAMERA, but they cop a plea and get 10-12 years for murdering somebody in cold blood?
Unreal.
Jacques Klahaya | Dec 9, 2009 9:10 am | 1 replies | Request removal
Post reply
And just who are the prosecutors that offered this silly plea bargain? I would like their names. The killing is on tape, there are witnesses and the prosecutor's office has to offer a plea bargain? Anyone,even without a law degree could get a conviction. Why are we paying good money to have prosecutors if they are that inept?
joan mumm | Dec 12, 2009 2:28 am | Request removal
Let's have a few mug shots of these criminals.
come on Herald, you do print the news? right?
Won't happen, the Herald is history....sorry
tagger arrest | Dec 10, 2009 9:27 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Luis Ramirez was beaten to death in Shenandoa PA by a gang of whites who attacked him because he was Mexican. The killers were convicted of SIMPLE ASSAULT. They got almost no time for KILLING Luis.
The town CELEBRATED the verdicts, as Im sure many of the people who commented on this story would do.
Im disgusted at these comments, refering to Hispanics as "Mexi's," it's obvious that many of the commentors view Hispanic life to be less valuable than that of a white individual. It breaks my heart.
I'm not saying that I believe this verdict is unfair, I just think that it should be across the board and ALL human life to be valued equally. The family of the victim is in my prayers and having lost a young nephew in May, I can relate to your pain and I am so sorry for your loss.
denise lugo | Dec 10, 2009 11:53 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Kill them both.
My 2 cents worth.
Frankie the Fly | Dec 10, 2009 11:07 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
This tragedy has been a long time coming for the sleepy little town of Sultan. Behind the smallville appearance was a place that had grown dark and dingy, with deep rooted corruption and a bunch of screaming and yelling activist types who seemed to want to just shut the whole city down for their own amusement. This environment attracted some not so great people into the community.
That seems to be changing now. The activist people have all but gone away. The schools are getting better and so are the neighborhoods. A BIG part of this is the County Sheriffs coming in and running the law enforcement now. Before things were too dicey and weird in that area but now it seems a lot more professional. The activists tried to keep things the same way in this area but were finally sent packing. Crime investigations are done quickly and cases are getting solved it seems. The streets are cleaner and the scum are not so out in the open. In fact driving around Sultan new seems a whole lot better than driving around Monroe and some parts of Snohomish.
I had my doubts about Sultan but the last year or so I am seeing a big difference and that really comes down to having a whole new law enforcement presence and some community folks stepping up big time and helping those officers out.
I really think Sultan might be turning a corner. I think it is a better place to raise a family than Monroe and the schools seem a whole lot safer. If it keeps improving itself Sultan might end up the best place in the east county to call your home. Of course if it goes back to its old ways and if the wacko activists start yelling and screaming again, then troubles will return again.
I'm betting on Sultan.
Valley Guy | Dec 10, 2009 10:28 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Just imagine is it were a bunch of white kids in a gang called "White Pride Soldiers" attacking a bunch of mexis..oh boy
LOOK IT UP, SHENANDOAH PA, A GANG OF WHITES ATTACKED A MEXICAN, LUIS RAMIREZ, KILLED HIM AND GOT SIMPLE ASSAULT CHARGES!!! JUST IMAGINE? NO NEED TO IMAGINE, ITS ALREADY HAPPENED AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM PROVED THAT IT DOES NOT CONSIDER THE LIFE OF A MINORITY TO BE AS VALUABLE AS THE LIFE OF A WHITE PERSON!!!!!!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2242708/posts
"MEXIS" ARE YOU SERIOUS NICK NONE? WHAT ARE YOU? WHO WOULD USE THE TERM "MEXI?" YOU CAN ALL ANSWER THAT F0R YOURSELF!!!
denise lugo | Dec 10, 2009 8:48 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
in all its glory.
Veritas Splendor | Dec 9, 2009 9:58 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
The boy that was killed, had been in foster care. He was doing so well until DSHS returned him home to a mother that was a drug addict. She would leave him alone for weeks. See what happens when DSHS does not make wise decisions for the children under their watch?
Anne Hanson | Dec 9, 2009 9:29 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Hey Herald, show the faces of the killers. Show the faces of guilty that have killed. I want to see the photos. Who are these people? Why don't you show those photos.
I want to see the video and I'd show it to all the kids that are in gangs in evertt
If the herald needs a list of the schools in everett that have gang ties, feel free to respond to this email..
tagger arrest | Dec 9, 2009 6:25 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
For months I've been under the impression that Antonio Marks was an Honor Student, helping the homeless through selfless acts of volunteer work, a member of DECA and Senate page and a UW scholarship finalist. No, he was a rival gang member. Got it!
D. M. | Dec 9, 2009 8:43 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Just imagine is it were a bunch of white kids in a gang called "White Pride Soldiers" attacking a bunch of mexis..oh boy
Third world people bring third world cultures
Nick None | Dec 9, 2009 6:31 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Thats it? They take a life, and thats it? I dont care if they admitted it, give them the max. Stupid liberal court system.
T Myers | Dec 9, 2009 5:00 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
Well now, good thing the police task force have been staking out the baristas for months. I feel safe knowing our priorities are so in order.
bob goober | Dec 9, 2009 4:58 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply
still... i want to use it, But i wont.
cme everett | Dec 9, 2009 4:18 am | 0 replies | Request removal
Post reply