Death sentence handed down for second time in carjack killing case

A death sentence was handed down today for one of two menconvicted of carjacking, kidnapping, robbing and killing a 55-year-old Indioresident.

Carlos Contreras, 34, was convicted in February of the May 7, 2008,murder of Daniel Kuzawa, and jurors found true special circumstance allegationsof murder in the commission of a robbery, kidnapping and carjacking.

The same panel determined that Contreras deserved the death penalty, andRiverside County Superior Court Judge David B. Downing uphold therecommendation rather than sentencing the defendant to life in prison withoutparole.

Co-defendant Daniel Cervantes, 35, was also convicted in Kuzawa’s murderand was sentenced to death on April 12.

Kuzawa was found by a field worker. He had been shot in the head andchest at close range on the dirt shoulder of Pierce Street south of AirportBoulevard. His wrists and neck were bound with electrical cable.

Deputy District Attorney Manny Bustamante said Cervantes held a gun onthe victim while Contreras tied up Kuzawa in his own truck as he pleaded forhis life.

Kuzawa’s credit card was used at a Shell station in Coachella early onthe morning of his death. Contreras was arrested that night, after authoritiesstopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger. While trying to flee, hedisposed of a gun believed to be the weapon used to kill Kuzawa, Bustamantesaid.

Contreras had gunshot residue on his hands and was in possession ofKuzawa’s wallet, a round of ammunition and a credit card belonging to a man heshot a few days before, the prosecutor said. He was also carrying Kuzawa’sinsurance and Costco cards, Bustamante said.

A search of the Coachella home where Contreras lived with his parentsturned up an ATM receipt from the Fastrip station and spools of cable of thetype used to bind Kuzawa, according to Bustamante.

Contreras was additionally convicted of shooting Walter Garrett in thejaw and shoulder near Dillon Road and Vista Del Sur in Coachella, and stealingand burning his pickup truck on May 3, 2008, as well as robbing, kidnapping andcarjacking Sandra Jaramillo on April 28, 2008, in Palm Desert.

Contreras was also convicted of having property stolen from a La Quintaman and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He was sentenced to life in prison for shooting Garrett and forkidnapping Jaramillo, and 25 years to life for a gun use allegation.