VISTA — A Superior Court judge granted a request by the District Attorney’s Office to deny bail for Jonathan William Badillo, who pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the Sept. 30 stabbing death of Joshua Sheets outside an ampm convenience store in the 1400 block of East Vista Way.
At Wednesday afternoon’s hearing at the Vista Courthouse, Judge Brian Erickson listened as Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Coulter laid out her argument against bail.
Coulter said detectives determined that Badillo lay in wait, watching Sheets, who was lying on the ground behind the convenience store, for about 20 minutes before creeping toward him and stabbing him once in the neck.
The stab wound was so deep it reached Sheets’ spine, Coulter said. Badillo then allegedly watched the victim for several minutes before leaving the scene.
Passersby found Sheets and called the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
According to sheriff’s homicide detectives who arrested Badillo on Oct. 2, the defendant told them he had wanted to do something like this for some time and found it easier than he expected. He also allegedly told detectives that if released, he would attempt to do it again.
The public defender assigned to Badillo offered no argument for bail.
Erickson ruled that Badillo, who has been held without bail since his arrest, poses a “clear” danger to the community and that no less restrictive alternative, such as a restraining order or electronic monitoring, could adequately protect the public.
Following Badillo’s plea and the denial of bail, Erickson scheduled his next court appearance for Nov. 16.
