Husband, Wife, and their Son Sentenced for 2017 Porter Creek Road Murder

Defendants Rene Espinoza Jr., 22-years-old, Maria Guadalupe Torres, 42 years old, and Rene Espinoza Martinez, 42 years old, all of Clearlake, were each sentenced earlier today by the Honorable Bradford DeMeo to a life-term in prison following their July convictions for the 2017 murder of Antonio Botello Arreola.  Each defendant entered a “no contest” plea to murder charges just prior to beginning jury selection for their trial.

The charges resulted from the three defendants coordinating the killing of Arreola, who had developed a relationship with Torres while he stayed on the defendants’ property.  After learning of the relationship, Torres’ husband, Martinez, and son, Espinoza, conspired with her to lure Arreola to a remote area along

All three defendants were charged with conspiring to commit murder, as well as murder, for their role in the killing. The case was set for trial to begin on June 28, 2019 when all defendants reached an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office to plead guilty. Espinoza was convicted of first degree murder and a further allegation that he personally used a firearm resulting in the death of Arreola. He was sentenced to a term of 50 years to life in prison. Torres was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to a term of 25 years to life in prison.  Martinez was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to a term of 15 years to life in prison.