Trio sentenced to life in prison for Modesto slayings of boy, dad

Three defendants were sentenced Monday to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, for slaying a 10-year-old boy and Modesto man in an act of gang retaliation.

Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Marie Silveira handed down consecutive life sentences for Aaron Aguilera, Randy Sifuentez and Joe Luis Ramirez, who were convicted in September for the double homicide of 10-year-old Epifanio Ramirez Jr. and Jason Cyphers, 29. The shooting occurred almost seven years ago in Modesto’s La Loma area.

Aguilera and Sifuente also were given 15 years to life for shooting into an occupied home.

Cyphers and the boy were fatally wounded in a shooting in July 2009 at the home of Epifanio Ramirez Sr. on Santa Barbara Avenue. Epifanio Ramirez Sr., who had left the Norteno gang, was believed the intended target of the shooting for selling drugs in the gang’s territory.

Cyphers was shot in the garage of the home, and the 10-year-old was inside the house when struck by a bullet that went through a wall.

Joe Ramirez, a high-ranking gang member not related to Epifanio Ramirez, was found guilty of ordering Aguilera and Sifuentez to carry out the shooting.

Monday’s sentencing came more than six months after the guilty verdicts. Silveira denied motions for new trials from the defendants’ attorneys and said there was no reason to grant more time to consider “new” information from Aguilera.

Four victim impact statements were delivered at Monday’s hearing.

April Peeples, saying that she knew both Aguilera and Ramirez, condemned their callous actions which took away her son. She said the defendants could have taken revenge on Epifanio Ramirez Sr. on the streets rather than shoot at an occupied house.

Bonnie Olivera, Cyphers’ mother, said she waited seven years for justice for her son. She described him as a kind, compassionate man who had many friends. “You took the father of an 8-year-old son, the uncle of three young boys, and my best friend,” Olivera said. “Jason won’t be able to see his son grow into a man.”

Claudia Medina fumed it was “unbelievable” the trio was using social media to claim innocence. She said they will never know what it was like for her to watch her stepson take his last breaths.

Aguilera and Sifuentez looked directly at the speakers, while Ramirez sat with eyes straight head. The three men were allowed to make statements, and each claimed he was not responsible for the killings.

“I am on the side of the families and victims and for pursuing justice,” Aguilera said.

Silveira set a May 23 court date for completing sentencing. The unfinished business includes calculation of credits and corrected probation reports.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Trio sentenced to life in prison for Modesto slayings of boy, dad."