http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_7972613

Driver in triple fatality gets max
By Jose L. Medina Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 01/15/2008 12:00:00 AM MST

LAS CRUCES -- An Anthony, N.M., man who prosecutors say was involved in a
triple-fatality car crash and fled to Mexico afterward, then later
returned to the United States and opened fire on a children's birthday
party and fled again, was sentenced Monday in state court.

Claudio Castaneda, 27, was given the maximum 18 years in prison by
District Judge Doug Driggers for the June 19, 2004 vehicular homicide
deaths of Juan Carlos Quintana, 13; Juan Guerra, 19; and Isaac Baquera,
16.

Castaneda was driving an SUV with Quintana, Guerra, Baquera and two
others aboard. The vehicle rolled several times at the intersection of
Joy and Anthony drives in Anthony.

Castaneda -- who admits being drunk the night of the crash -- said he
could not recall if he was the one at the wheel but decided to plead
guilty so the families of the victims can have closure.

"I'm a coward your honor," said Castaneda, who called the crash an
accident and victims his close friends. "That's why I ran. I didn't know
my friends were dead. If not, I would've stayed there."

Castaneda is already serving a 25-year sentence for a May 19, 2005
incident in which he fired at a 5-year-old's birthday party also in
Anthony, District Attorney Susana Martinez said.

Castaneda said he is a remorseful, changed man. Martinez didn't buy it,
pointing to Castaneda's lengthy criminal and violent history. She said
the vehicular homicide case took substantial time to prosecute because
witnesses were fearful of testifying against Castaneda.

"You don't change simply because you've been in jail for a little over a
year," Martinez said. "I think he knows the system won and he knows
exactly what he needs to say while he's in the courtroom and he seems to
forget exactly what he says the moment he walks out of the courtroom."

Castaneda was convicted in the drive-by. Driggers ordered the 18-year
vehicular homicide sentence be served consecutive to the shooting
sentence, giving him a total of 43 years in jail.

Guerra's mother, Maria Guerra, told Driggers she did not believe
Castaneda does not remember the crash because he came to her home
afterward claiming her son was not dead and had instead been arrested.

"That was not true because my son was already dead at that moment and he
did not try to help my son," Maria Guerra said. She called Castaneda and
"undesirable" person both in and out of jail.

The hearing became highly emotional when one of Castaneda's family
members yelled at Martinez, questioning the prosecutors' account of the
events. The unidentified woman was led out of the courtroom and could be
heard yelling profanities in the hallway.

Castaneda, an American citizen, fled to Juarez after both the shooting
and fatal crash but was later extradited. He was apprehended by Mexican
authorities along with two juveniles for their alleged involvement in a
grocery store robbery.

Castaneda was also given a 2 1/2 year sentence Monday for an unrelated
guilty plea on a fourth-degree felony battery upon a peace office charge
and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. Driggers ordered
that sentence be served concurrent with the vehicular homicide sentence.