Wesley Brownlee to have 2nd court appearance
The suspected Stockton serial killer, Wesley Brownlee, is scheduled to appear in court for the second time on Monday. He is expected to be arranged on more charges in connection with the recent slayings of six people. Brownlee was arrested by police on Oct. 15 while driving on Winslow Way and Village Green Drive in Stockton. He was believed to be “out hunting” and had a firearm in his waistband, Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at the time of the arrest. The 43-year-old’s first court hearing was last month when he was arranged for three of the six total killings police say are connected — five in Stockton and one in Oakland. A woman also survived one of the attacks at Stockton. Learn more about his initial arrangement in the video player above. Court documents obtained by KCRA 3 show that Brownlee is being charged with the murders of Jonathan Rodriguez Hernandez, Juan Cruz and Lawrence Lopez, previously identified as Lorenzo Lopez. Hernandez Rodriguez was killed Aug. 30, Cruz was killed Sept. 21 and Lopez was killed Sept. 27.| MORE | What we’re learning about victims of the Stockton serial killingsProsecutors said that Brownlee used a ghost gun for the three murders he was charged with. Stockton police previously said they believed two other murders, that of 35-year-old Paul Alexander Yaw and 43-year-old Salvador William Debudey Jr., were also connected to the serial killings, but Brownlee currently is not charged with their deaths. Monday’s hearing could reveal more charges against BrownleeAfter last month’s arraignment, District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar said they had more work to do in the investigation. “We would like to remind the public that this investigation is ongoing and in no way does our charging determination end today or conclude this investigation. We have more work to do,” Verber-Salazar said. A week after Brownlee’s first court appearance, a judge denied a pretrial gag order request for the suspected serial killer. Brownlee’s legal team filed a motion in court on Oct. 24 requesting a protective order against pretrial publicity, also known as a gag order. Public Defender Allison Nobert argued in court that comments made to the media and to the public in news conferences held by the Stockton Police Department and the San Joaquin County District Attorney are hurting her client’s right to a fair trial.Video below: Stockton police chief details suspected serial killer arrestNobert argued that law enforcement has depicted Brownlee as being guilty of the serial killings before his trial has begun. The defendant’s legal team is also concerned about finding a jury that is fair and unbiased, as media coverage of this case has now gone global. The prosecutor disagreed with the gag order request.”We are in the very early stages – trial is a year or more away. We are also in the era of the 24-hour news cycle and it’s highly likely that this case will not have the coverage that it is currently generating,” Judge Xapuri Villapudua said in court on Oct. 25. “The court at this point cannot find at this time that there is a reasonable likelihood that the negative press would prevent Mr. Brownlee from receiving a fair trial and paneling a fair and impartial jury.” | RELATED | What was suspected Stockton serial killer Wesley Brownlee’s criminal history before slayings? There is no confirmed motive behind the slayings. He’s believed to have lived in Stockton off and on, while also living in other cities, and has a criminal record. According to public records, Brownlee has a criminal history in California and Arizona connected to past drug violations, traffic violations, and a DUI. Brownlee is being held on no bail. KCRA 3 will be at the arraignment, stay tuned for updates throughout the day.This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.–Reporting done by KCRA 3’s Brittany Hope and Hilda Flores contributed to this report.
STOCKTON, Calif. —
The suspected Stockton serial killer, Wesley Brownlee, is scheduled to appear in court for the second time on Monday. He is expected to be arranged on more charges in connection with the recent slayings of six people.
Brownlee was arrested by police on Oct. 15 while driving on Winslow Way and Village Green Drive in Stockton. He was believed to be “out hunting” and had a firearm in his waistband, Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at the time of the arrest.
The 43-year-old’s first court hearing was last month when he was arranged for three of the six total killings police say are connected — five in Stockton and one in Oakland. A woman also survived one of the attacks at Stockton.
Learn more about his initial arrangement in the video player above.
Court documents obtained by KCRA 3 show that Brownlee is being charged with the murders of Jonathan Rodriguez Hernandez, Juan Cruz and Lawrence Lopez, previously identified as Lorenzo Lopez.
Hernandez Rodriguez was killed Aug. 30, Cruz was killed Sept. 21 and Lopez was killed Sept. 27.
| MORE | What we’re learning about victims of the Stockton serial killings
Prosecutors said that Brownlee used a ghost gun for the three murders he was charged with.
Stockton police previously said they believed two other murders, that of 35-year-old Paul Alexander Yaw and 43-year-old Salvador William Debudey Jr., were also connected to the serial killings, but Brownlee currently is not charged with their deaths.
Monday’s hearing could reveal more charges against Brownlee
After last month’s arrangement, District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar said they had more work to do in the investigation.
“We would like to remind the public that this investigation is ongoing and in no way does our charging determination end today or conclude this investigation. We have more work to do,” Verber-Salazar said.
A week after Brownlee’s first court appearance, a judge denied a pretrial gag order request for the suspected serial killer.
Brownlee’s legal team filed a motion in court on Oct. 24 requesting a protective order against pretrial publicity, also known as a gag order. Public Defender Allison Nobert argued in court that comments made to the media and to the public in news conferences held by the Stockton Police Department and the San Joaquin County District Attorney are hurting her client’s right to a fair trial.
Video below: Stockton police chief details suspected serial killer arrest
Norbert argued that law enforcement has depicted Brownlee as being guilty of the serial killings before his trial has begun. The defendant’s legal team is also concerned about finding a jury that is fair and unbiased, as media coverage of this case has now gone global.
The prosecutor disagreed with the gag order request.
“We are in the very early stages – trial is a year or more away. We are also in the era of the 24-hour news cycle and it’s highly likely that this case will not have the coverage that it is currently generating,” Judge Xapuri Villapudua said in court on Oct. 25. “The court at this point cannot find at this time that there is a reasonable likelihood that the negative press would prevent Mr. Brownlee from receiving a fair trial and paneling a fair and impartial jury.”
| RELATED | What was suspected Stockton serial killer Wesley Brownlee’s criminal history before slayings?
There is no confirmed motive behind the slayings.
He’s believed to have lived in Stockton off and on, while also living in other cities, and has a criminal record. According to public records, Brownlee has a criminal history in California and Arizona connected to past drug violations, traffic violations, and a DUI.
Brownlee is being held on no bail. KCRA 3 will be at the arraignment, stay tuned for updates throughout the day.
This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
–Reporting done by KCRA 3’s Brittany Hope and Hilda Flores contributed to this report.