CLEARLAKE — Oreno Baddie, who shot and killed a man over a dispute concerning ownership of a stereo set almost 20 years ago in Clearlake, was denied parole at a parole hearing January 16, at the California State Prison in Vacaville. It is the third time in seven years that Baddie was denied parole, according to Lake County Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who appeared at all three hearings to oppose parole for Baddie.
During previous hearings, Baddie informed the Board of Prison Term commissioners who heard his plea, that he had never felt remorse for the second degree murder of Cesario Martinez on May 14, 1989. He added that he thought Martinez deserved to be shot, Hinchcliff said.
Baddie, now 67, was convicted of killing Martinez by a Lake County jury and sentenced to 17 years to life in state prison by Judge John Golden in January 1990.
“We”re hoping the term is forever. His minimum parole date was in 2000. In the past he made statements that Martinez got what he deserved. Now he”s telling them [commissioners] he”s sorry, but I think it”s because he”s in prison and wants to get out,” Hinchcliff said.
Baddie could try for parole in the future. His next parole hearing is in 2010. Hinchcliff asked commissioners to deny parole because Baddie had not attended any drug and alcohol rehabilitation classes during his 17 years in prison and still presented an unreasonable danger to the public if released on parole.
Commissioners agreed and said they thought the murder was committed in a callous manner, that Baddie had not made sufficient programming efforts in prison, and that he still poses a risk to society, Hinchcliff said.
Three days prior to the killing, the victim took the stereo from Baddie”s 13th Street residence in Clearlake. The stereo belonged to another man, Ron Nichols, but Baddie insisted he owned it.
In response, Baddie said that he would put Martinez in the “Fuller Brothers Funeral Home.” Hinchcliff is not sure whether this is a common phrase, or a well-known funeral home. When the victim heard about the threat, he went to Baddie”s residence on May 14, but when Baddie”s wife answered the door and informed him that Martinez was there to see him, Baddie came to the door with a gun.
He told Martinez to lie down, and that he was placing him under citizen”s arrest. When the victim refused, Baddie shot him five times, hitting him in the chest, lower back, wrist, thigh and forearm. Martinez died later that day at the hospital. Baddie later told investigators he shot Martinez because he was afraid he would get away.
“Investigators talked to people who said he was on drugs a couple of days prior to the murder, and that he was really wired. He had a history of mental health and alcohol [abuse],” Hinchcliff said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
