Greenfield man pleads no contest to stabbing his brother death

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Wednesday, that on July 17, that 19-year-old Juan Cervantes of Greenfield pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter and admitted a special allegation for the use of a knife during a killing. He also pled no contest to several counts of assault with a deadly weapon. On the morning of October 21, 2018 on the 50 block of 9th Street in Greenfield, Cervantes and his brother were hanging out at their mother’s home, where the victim also lived. They hung out together all day at the home, leaving twice together and returning. In the evening, Cervantes and the victim locked themselves in a bedroom. Their mother checked on them thinking it was strange that the door was locked, but they told her they were fine and just talking. Moments later she heard what sounded like a physical altercation coming from the bedroom. The victim opened the bedroom door and their mother observed Cervantes striking the victim in the head multiple times. She attempted to place herself in the middle of Cervantes and the victim to stop the fight. When she was unsuccessful she became alarmed and left the room to call 911. Upon her return she saw that the victim had been stabbed several times in the legs and that Cervantes had fled the home. The victim died within minutes from his injuries. On August 23, 2019, Judge Andrew G. Liu will sentence Cervantes to 16 years in prison.  This case was investigated by Greenfield Police Detective Leonel Guzman, King City Police Detective Joshue Partida, District Attorney Investigator Peter Austen, and several other officers from Greenfield and King City Police Departments.