Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, August 5 that 33-year-old Christopher Montoya of King City, pled no contest to murdering Daniel “Duke” Martinez and personally using a firearm in the commission of the murder. On September 3, 2018, Montoya and three others went to a house in Salinas to purchase marijuana. Montoya, while holding a .38 caliber revolver in his hand by his side, knocked on the back door of the house. The victim, who was a guest at the house, opened the door and he and Montoya began to argue. The confrontation turned physical and the victim hit Montoya one time before Montoya shot the victim in the head. After a period of time residents of the house called 911. Salinas police officers arrived and despite the attempted life saving measures, the victim was declared dead at the scene. The residents of the home were uncooperative with the police and their investigation. Nine days later, on September 12, 2018, the CHP got into a chase on Highway 101 in Salinas, with speeds reaching 130 miles per hour, with a black BMW matching the vehicle associated with the murder occurring on September 3. The occupants of the BMW threw a handgun out of the vehicle. The FBI examined the revolver and concluded that it was the firearm used to kill the victim on September 3, 2018. Judge Rafael Vazquez will preside over the sentencing on August 27, 2019. Christopher Montoya will be sentenced to 18 years-to-life in the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. The case was investigated by Detective Robert Miller of the Salinas Police Department with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Monterey County District Attorney’s Investigative Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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