Man Arrested in Murder For Hire Plot

Santa Maria - June 9th, 2010

A Santa Maria man is in the Santa Barbara County Jail on $1,000,000 bail after Sheriff’s Narcotics Detectives arrested him in a murder for hire plot.

The investigation began when the Sheriff’s Office learned that 31-year old Alfonso Garcia Medina (DOB 12/13/78) of Santa Maria, wanted to hire someone to kill a man that was dating Medina’s estranged wife.

A Sheriff's detective, posing as a "hit man", met with Medina to discuss and negotiate a plan to murder the intended victim; a 35-year old Guadalupe resident.

Medina provided the detective with photographs of the intended victim, along with photos of the man’s home and his vehicles. Medina also negotiated with the detective on an undisclosed price to have the hit carried out. 

On Tuesday, June 8th, 2010, detectives arrested Medina and charged him with solicitation to commit murder, which is a felony (653F(B) PC).  Medina was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail Tuesday evening where he remains at the time of this news release’s distribution. 

The intended victim was informed of Medina's intentions and of his subsequent arrest.

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please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

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