Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008

Modesto man convicted in 2006 stabbing death

A Modesto man was convicted of first-degree murder Monday in a 2006 stabbing that left a Turlock man dead, authorities said.

A jury in Stanislaus County Superior Court found, after a two-week trial, that Ramon Guardado, 24, was responsible for the death of Joseph Badal, 48, on May 10, 2006.

According to the Stanislaus County district attorney's office, Badal met Guardado and a companion minutes before the stabbing in the parking lot of a bar on Crows Landing Road. The three drove in Badal's sport utility vehicle to a neighborhood off Hatch Road and Crows Landing, where Guardado pulled a steak knife from his pocket and held it to Badal's neck.

After a struggle, according to the district attorney's office, Badal was fatally stabbed in the chest.

Badal was not armed. He got out of the SUV and the men fled in it.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 30 in Department 9 before Judge Scott Steffen. Guardado faces life without the possibility of parole.

Monica Arias of Modesto, then 22, was acquitted in December 2007 of carjacking and murder charges in connection with Badal's death.