Santa Rosa Man Receives Life Sentence for 2022 Killing

Defendant Juan Antonio Martinez, 35 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Laura Passaglia to serve 20 years-to-life in state prison after pleading “no contest” in February of this year to charges of second-degree murder, and extortion by posing as a kidnapper, and admitting a sentencing enhancement for personally using a firearm. 

District Attorney Rodriguez stated, “Mr. Martinez's callous behavior both in murdering the victim, and later when attempting to extort the victim's girlfriend, warrant the life sentence in state prison.”

The murder occurred on June 10, 2022, when Martinez and the victim, Deydhy Jordy Silverio-Castro, went car shopping. Toward the end of their excursion, Martinez shot the victim the head, stole $15,000.00 from him, and buried his body in a shallow grave. In the days following the shooting, Martinez posed as a kidnapper and attempted to extort $165,000 from Mr. Silverio-Castro’s girlfriend, who had reported the victim missing.  Martinez eventually confessed and led investigators to the victim’s body.

On February 6, 2024, Martinez entered a plea of no contest to one count of second-degree murder in violation of Penal Code Section 187(a) and admitted to personally using a firearm in violation of Penal Code Section 12022.5(a). Martinez also pled no contest to one count of extortion by posing as a kidnapper in violation of Penal Code Section 210. Martinez refused to attend his sentencing hearing in person and appeared via Zoom from his cell at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. Following a victim impact statement by Mr. Silverio-Castro’s girlfriend, Judge Passaglia pronounced the sentence of 18 years to life in prison for one count of murder, and two years for one count of posing as a kidnapper to commit extortion. The court acknowledged the victim impact statement and noted that the victim did not deserve to die and that “Mr. Martinez robbed him of his future.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Hubley and Christopher White. The Windsor Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office headed the investigation.