- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clearlake Park man formally charged with Middletown homicide; fundraiser launched for murder victim's family
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake Park man arrested last week for fatally shooting a Middletown man and wounding a woman has been formally charged for the crimes.
Javier Martinez Cachu, 20, made his first appearance for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court earlier this week.
Authorities say he fatally shot 25-year-old Luis Pimentel-Arroyo and wounded a woman – whose name has not been released – while they were in a vehicle on Butts Canyon Road in Middletown on the night of Dec. 30.
Martinez Cachu then fled the scene in another vehicle before turning himself in at the Clearlake Police Department about two hours later.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said he charged Martinez Cachu with the murder of Pimentel-Arroyo along with two special allegations – murder for financial gain and murder by lying wait.
“Both those make him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole,” said Hinchcliff.
Additionally, Hinchcliff charged Martinez Cachu with the attempted murder of the woman in the vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle.
Martinez Cachu, who is in custody at the Lake County Jail, initially had his bail set at $1 million. Hinchcliff said Martinez Cachu is now being held without bail following this week's court appearance.
Defense attorney Barry Melton has been appointed to represent Martinez Cachu, Hinchcliff said.
Martinez Cachu is next set to be in court on Jan. 12 for appearance of counsel and entry of plea, according to Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff said that, at this point early in the proceedings, he cannot discuss the motive behind the murder.
“We're trying not to talk about the facts,” Hinchcliff said.
While the criminal proceedings move forward against Martinez Cachu, an effort is under way to help Pimentel-Arroyo's family.
On Jan. 1 Donella Dawkins, a friend of Pimentel-Arroyo and his fiancée, Eva Prado, launched a GoFundMe page, which is seeking to raise funds to help Prado and the family in the aftermath of Pimentel-Arroyo's death.
Prado told Lake County News that they had been living in Middletown when they were burned out of their home due to the Valley fire.
She and her children currently are staying in temporary housing while she looks for other accommodations.
As of late Tuesday night, $2,900 of the $5,000 goal had been raised.
Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/sbh3utcs .
Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.