Sentencing for one of ‘Manila 5’ to be set in August
One of the “Manila 5” is expected to have her sentencing date set in midAugust, assuming she is able to testify at the jury trial of one of her co-defendants.
The court is going to set the sentencing date at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 17 for Catherine Fode, 22, who pleaded guilty to being involved in the homicide of Tyson Eduardo
Claros, 20, on or about Dec. 12, 2016, with four others — Tamara Nicole Thomson, 21; Brandon James Mitchell, 25; Cesar Octavio Valenzuela, 26; and Hector Godoy-Standley, 24.
Fode pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Nov. 29, 2017, in exchange for her testimony at trial against her codefendants. But Mitchell, Thomson and GodoyStandley also entered into plea agreements and were already sentenced.
Fode is now waiting to testify at the trial of Valenzuela before she can be sentenced.
“My concern throughout this has been we’ve set these dates and then the trial gets continued and then we reset it to everyone’s consternation,” said defense attorney Neal Sanders.
Judge Christopher Wilson agreed it was frustrating but that August seemed like a good time for resetting.
“Especially given the current situation and the uncertainty of Mr. Valenzuela’s trial date,” Wilson said.