Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty to Shooting Wife

An illegal immigrant who shot his estranged wife in Temecula pleaded guilty today.

Jose De Jesus Cardon Alcala, 39, who pleaded not guilty earlier in the case, struck a plea deal with the District Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a special allegation of using a gun. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Mandio set a sentencing hearing for April 22. He faces nine years in state prison and deportation after serving his sentence, according to court records.

Alcala was originally charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, spousal abuse, burglary with multiple gun and great bodily injury allegations and kidnapping, though the kidnapping charge was dropped for lack of evidence during a pretrial hearing.

A judge ruled on Monday no discussion of the immigration status of Alcala or any of the witnesses would be allowed during the trial.

The attack happened on Aug. 23, 2008, at the victim’s home in the 43100 block of Corte Cabrera.

Alcala drove to the home of the victim, Marta De Ochoa, then 43, because a friend called him and said his wife was engaging in sexual behavior in view of their daughter, according to an attorney.

Alcala broke in before dawn and got in an argument with the victim and several other people, attorneys said. Then he shot the woman in the stomach, grabbed their daughter and fled to a relative’s home in Rosamond in Kern County, according to sheriff’s officials.

An Amber Alert was broadcast, and Kern County sheriff’s deputies spotted Alcala soon after while he ate at a fast food restaurant. He put up no fight when they arrested him, sheriff’s officials said.

Mandio screened the first panel of prospective jurors Monday and was ready for a second day of jury selection when the defendant changed his plea. The trial was projected to begin on Wednesday, Mandio said.

City News Service contributed to this report.