No longer tied to co-defendants in the Los Sauces case

ALAMOSA — CJ Dominguez was sentenced in court this week to serve 12 years in the Department of Corrections (DOC) after pleading guilty to the charge of tampering with deceased human remains in connection to the dismemberment of the body of Myron Robert Martinez, 37, of Del Norte. 

When Dominguez pled guilty, his case was decoupled from the three remaining co-defendants Adre Baroz, Julius Baroz and Francisco Ramirez whose cases are currently being prosecuted in the 12th Judicial District related to events in the deaths of Myron Martinez plus Selena Esquibel, Xavier “Zeven” Garcia, Karina Arroyo and Shayla Hammell.

Dominguez was originally charged with tampering with deceased human remains, second degree kidnapping and accessory to murder in the first degree. The kidnapping and accessory charges, both class four felonies, were dismissed as part of the resolution of the case. The remaining charge of tampering with a deceased body to which Dominguez pled guilty is a class three felony, making it the most serious charge of all that were filed.

During the hearing, presiding Chief District Judge Michael Gonzales stated that the Pre-Sentencing Investigation had been completed. Mr. Dominguez had been evaluated for placement in Community Corrections — a program located in Alamosa that oversees offenders outside of jail or prison — but Dominguez was not accepted, removing that as an option in sentencing.

During the hearing, victims impacted by the crime were allowed to address the court in addition to five “victim letters” the court had received that were entered into evidence. Counsel for the defense also showed a videotape for the judge to consider in sentencing.

The sentencing range for a class 3 felony is four to 12 years in DOC with a mandatory 36-month period of parole. Defense counsel argued for Dominguez to be sentenced to eight years; prosecution argued that 12 years in DOC was more appropriate and fitting of the crime.

After listening to arguments from counsel on both sides and a statement from Dominguez made to the court, Judge Gonzales made his ruling, sentencing Dominguez to the maximum sentence — 12 years in DOC — and a mandatory parole of 36 months. Dominguez will receive credit for time served — specifically, 495 days he has already spent in jail — toward that 12-year sentence.

The prosecution also requested that the court order restitution in the case with the amount to be undetermined until the cases of the three remaining co-defendants have concluded. In response, the defense requested a restitution hearing.

Judge Gonzales ruled the court will allow time beyond the 91 days typically allowed for restitution to be ordered.

At the end of the hearing, Dominguez was remanded to Alamosa County Jail until such time as he can be transported to the Department of Corrections.

The next time co-defendants Adre Baroz, Julius Baroz and Francisco Ramirez are scheduled to be in court is March 30 for a status hearing.