A 36-year-old Venezuelan man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 68-year-old Martinez man during an alleged residential burglary last week. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Marcos Eduardo Iriarte-Valdez with the murder of Todd Stewart. Prosecutors allege Iriarte-Valdez stabbed Stewart to death with a knife at about 5:10 p.m. on Aug. 6 while committing a residential burglary. Martinez Police identified and located Iriarte-Valdez following the killing with help from the public and evidence gathered during the investigation, including surveillance video and physical evidence processed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab. The case was presented to prosecutors on Aug. 11, and a criminal complaint was filed the same day.
In addition to the murder charge, prosecutors allege the killing occurred during the commission of a burglary. If that special circumstance allegation is proven, Iriarte-Valdez could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is also accused of personally using a knife during the crime. According to prosecutors, Iriarte-Valdez was out of custody on court-ordered electronic monitoring in connection with a separate burglary case at the time of the killing. Iriarte-Valdez pleaded not guilty to the murder charge Wednesday and denied the allegations against him. Contra Costa Superior Court Judge David Goldstein ordered him held without bail after calling him a risk to public safety. He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 1 in Richmond, where a date for his preliminary hearing is expected to be set.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Marcos Iriarte-Valdez is currently considered to be in the United States illegally.
Illegal – out on an electronic watch – what’s wrong with this picture. No deportation, he’ll get out again…. life without parole or …. send to Tx or FL
Thank the democrats! They will go to no end to protect these illegal alien criminals.
Since he was armed with a knife and wearing tactical gear and gloves, I assumed he was there to commit murder. Why kill if the intention was burglary, and the victim was in his garage. Just leave.
Another criminal illegal invader out of custody with an ankle bracelet.
Why wasn’t he turned over to ICE? In all likelihood, Mr Stewart would
still be alive if the criminal illegal invader was turned over to ICE and
deported.
Democrats are contemptible, they are tearing our country apart, and
flushing the pieces down the toilet. They like to brag about being
educated, but being knowledgeable of book facts or math, does not
mean they know anything about life. It only proves that intelligence
does not necessarily equal smart. They appear to be lacking in
rationality, wisdom, common sense, and everyday street smarts.
.
An ILLEGAL ALIEN unreported to ICE and released by a judge shortly before the stabbing.
.
Sanctuary policies & lax criminal prosecution are getting Americans killed.
.
DEPORT EVERY ILLEGAL. They’re not supposed to be here.
Thanks to the democrat judges, politicians and dem voters this is happening.
Close the border and throw the garbage back.
FOX News did a very in depth story on this case last night.
Congratulations Judge, you made national news!
That is Judge Nichelle N. Holmes
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https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/08/11/ca-injustice-he-was-released-not-once-but-twice-then-he-went-out-and-randomly-murdered-somebody-n2205482
People should be allowed to sue these judges for damages when they continually let criminals go and then victimize others.
I guess the American citizen doesn’t matter anymore
I don’t know how these judges and politicians can sleep at night or look their families in the eye knowing they are responsible for the deaths of innocent people. Judges are not much better than the criminals they preside over.
Wow, looking forward to hearing people say, do not turn him over to ICE, this is racist, we’re all immigrants.
An ILLEGAL ALIEN out on OR by a CCC judge 1 day before the murder of an innocent LEGAL AMERICAN. What a disgrace to CCC and CALIFORNIAs so called justice system. Hope the CCC judge who let him out on OR one day before the murder happened gets fired or recalled. But it is weak CCC, so nothing will probably happen, the judge will probably get a raise!!!!!! PATHETIC
When will CALI wake up and stop hiring people for the wrong reasons or keep getting these pathetic results. Try voting RED this year, Voting Blue has only mad Cali a sewer especially the Bay Area and LA for the last 30 years.
DEPORT ALL ILLEGAS IN CCC NOW !!!!! Work with ICE CCC or this is what happens in the county seat on Martinez, this happened with a few miles of the Courthouse where he was released on OR one day before the murder. Pathetic !!!!!!!