Sandra Cantu #4 4/27/09 -

[JessStar]

Melissa Huckaby Indicted on Five Counts in Connection With Sandra Cantu Murder Case
Created by Kimberlee Sakamoto on 8/17/2009 1:27:00 PM


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STOCKTON (KRON) – KRON 4’s Terisa Estacio is confirming that Melissa Huckaby, the woman accused of killing and raping her 8-year-old neighbor, has been indicted on five counts.

The 28-year-old was originally supposed to appear in court in September, until the date was moved up to August 17th.

A gag order is in place, which prevents all involved parties from discussing the case with the media.

Huckaby is charged with taking Sandra Cantu from her Tracy home, sexually assaulting the child with a foreign object and killing her.  Sandra's body was later found in luggage left in an irrigation pond a couple of miles from the Orchard Estates Mobile home park where she disappeared.

The mother and former Sunday school teacher has pleaded not guilty of all charges and enhancements.

Stay with KRON 4 and KRON4.com for the latest developments in the Huckaby murder case.


http://kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/2670/reftab/36/t/Melissa%20Huckaby%20Indicted%20on%20Five%20Counts%20in%20Connection%20With%20Sandra%20Cantu%20Murder%20Case/Default.aspx

[pink angel]

You found it.

It came as a text message on my phone.

[JessStar]

I've been refreshing every news page I could find!

Now I wonder what the 5 counts are, and if any of them are related to the other 7 year old girl and the older guy (the poisoning counts).  Or whether they're all related to Sandra's murder. . .  We'll see I guess.

[pink angel]

It says enhancements. Which is special circumstances correct? Meaning she will be eligible for the death penalty. If the DA decides to go that way.

I think they are all related to Sandra.
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Melissa Huckaby indicted
Monday, August 17, 2009 | 1:44 PM

TRACY, CA (KGO) -- The woman accused of sexually assaulting and killing an 8-year-old Tracy girl was in court Monday.

Melissa Huckaby is charged in the murder of Sandra Cantu. Cantu disappeared in March and her body was found on April 6 in a piece of luggage in a drainage canal, not far from the trailer park where she lived.

Her neighbor Huckaby was arrested a few days later.

Huckaby was indicted on five counts in connection with Cantu's murder Monday afternoon. She had two cuts on her forehead, rumored to be from an incident at the jail Monday morning.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6968957

[JessStar]

It says enhancements. Which is special circumstances correct? Meaning she will be eligible for the death penalty. If the DA decides to go that way.

I think they are all related to Sandra.
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Melissa Huckaby indicted
Monday, August 17, 2009 | 1:44 PM

TRACY, CA (KGO) -- The woman accused of sexually assaulting and killing an 8-year-old Tracy girl was in court Monday.

Melissa Huckaby is charged in the murder of Sandra Cantu. Cantu disappeared in March and her body was found on April 6 in a piece of luggage in a drainage canal, not far from the trailer park where she lived.

Her neighbor Huckaby was arrested a few days later.

Huckaby was indicted on five counts in connection with Cantu's murder Monday afternoon. She had two cuts on her forehead, rumored to be from an incident at the jail Monday morning.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6968957

Yes, the enhancements mean she is eligible for the death penalty.  It also means that she's been indicted on a first degree homicide charge.  The enhancements are probably the same that the prosecutor filed against her, principally kidnapping, lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 12, and rape with a foreign object.  I'm really curious about the other counts.  We'll find out, unless the judge seals the indictment.

[pink angel]

 Aug 17, 2009 1:48 pm US/Pacific
Melissa Huckaby Indicted In Sandra Cantu Case
STOCKTON (CBS13) ―

Melissa Huckaby, the woman accused of kidnapping, raping and killing Sandra Cantu last April, has been indicted by a grand jury.

Huckaby, was back in a San Joaquin County Superior Court today in a surprise hearing.  She appeared to have scratches on her face and arms.   

The grand jury indictment means Huckaby's case will go straight to trial instead of a preliminary hearing in open court.

Authorities say Huckaby killed 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, who was a playmate of Huckaby's daughter. The girl's body was later found stuffed in a suitcase in a nearby irrigation pond.

If convicted, Huckaby could face the death penalty.

http://cbs13.com/breakingnews/melissa.huckaby.indicted.2.1132335.html

[cece]

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Huckaby-Back-in-Court-53425507.html

A crush of media is expected Monday at a hearing for the woman accused of killing 8-year-old Tracy resident Sandra Cantu.

Former Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby is set to appear in court at 1 p.m.   What happens in court is considered a minor legal move according to legal experts, but it was enough to get the Today Show on NBC to send a live satelite truck for some pre-hearing coverage on national television.

She is accused of the rape and killing of Cantu, whose disappearance and death attracted national attention back in March.

A massive search for Sandra ended 10 days after her disappearance when her body was found stuffed in a black suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond a few miles from the mobile home park where she lived.

Huckaby pleaded not guilty back in June to charges she kidnapped, raped and killed the little girl.

She also pleaded not guilty to charges that she previously drugged a 7-year-old girl as well as a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had been dating. The girl lives in the same mobile park where Huckaby lived just down the street from Sandra.

Huckaby is charged with murder with the special circumstances of rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14, which could make her eligible for the death penalty if convicted. She also is charged with two counts of furnishing someone a harmful substance and one count of child endangerment in the drugging case.

Monday's hearing is not expected to make any changes in the case.  The judge has already scheduled a preliminary hearing for Huckaby to start the last week in September.


(That may be the additional charges?)

[JessStar]

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Huckaby-Back-in-Court-53425507.html

A crush of media is expected Monday at a hearing for the woman accused of killing 8-year-old Tracy resident Sandra Cantu.

Former Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby is set to appear in court at 1 p.m.   What happens in court is considered a minor legal move according to legal experts, but it was enough to get the Today Show on NBC to send a live satelite truck for some pre-hearing coverage on national television.

She is accused of the rape and killing of Cantu, whose disappearance and death attracted national attention back in March.

A massive search for Sandra ended 10 days after her disappearance when her body was found stuffed in a black suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond a few miles from the mobile home park where she lived.

Huckaby pleaded not guilty back in June to charges she kidnapped, raped and killed the little girl.

She also pleaded not guilty to charges that she previously drugged a 7-year-old girl as well as a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had been dating. The girl lives in the same mobile park where Huckaby lived just down the street from Sandra.

Huckaby is charged with murder with the special circumstances of rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14, which could make her eligible for the death penalty if convicted. She also is charged with two counts of furnishing someone a harmful substance and one count of child endangerment in the drugging case.

Monday's hearing is not expected to make any changes in the case.  The judge has already scheduled a preliminary hearing for Huckaby to start the last week in September.


(That may be the additional charges?)

Perhaps.  But those were taken from the criminal complaint, not the indictment.

[JessStar]

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Huckaby-Back-in-Court-53425507.html

A crush of media is expected Monday at a hearing for the woman accused of killing 8-year-old Tracy resident Sandra Cantu.

Former Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby is set to appear in court at 1 p.m.   What happens in court is considered a minor legal move according to legal experts, but it was enough to get the Today Show on NBC to send a live satelite truck for some pre-hearing coverage on national television.

She is accused of the rape and killing of Cantu, whose disappearance and death attracted national attention back in March.

A massive search for Sandra ended 10 days after her disappearance when her body was found stuffed in a black suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond a few miles from the mobile home park where she lived.

Huckaby pleaded not guilty back in June to charges she kidnapped, raped and killed the little girl.

She also pleaded not guilty to charges that she previously drugged a 7-year-old girl as well as a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had been dating. The girl lives in the same mobile park where Huckaby lived just down the street from Sandra.

Huckaby is charged with murder with the special circumstances of rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14, which could make her eligible for the death penalty if convicted. She also is charged with two counts of furnishing someone a harmful substance and one count of child endangerment in the drugging case.

Monday's hearing is not expected to make any changes in the case.  The judge has already scheduled a preliminary hearing for Huckaby to start the last week in September.


(That may be the additional charges?)

Perhaps.  But those were taken from the criminal complaint, not the indictment.

By the way, whomever the "legal expert" was that considered this a "minor legal move" and suggested that the hearing "is not expected to make any changes in the case" and that the prelim will go forward as currently scheduled must have just passed the bar.    There will be no prelim now.  The case will go straight to trial.  Assuming there is a trial.  I still expect a plea, unless Sandra's family insists on the death penalty.

[Sister]

Originally: Huckaby, 28, has been charged with murder in the death of Sandra with three enhancements: kidnapping, lewd and lascivious acts on a child, and rape with a foreign object.
JessStar, correct me if I am mistaken, but the enhancements will add time to her sentence, even if it is life without parole or whatever.  It appears she is now charged with five enhancements, and if I understand correctly, these could include drugging the other child, etc.
Really, some reporters . . . there will not be a preliminary, the grand jury took adequate care of that, thank goodness!

[JessStar]

Sister, you are correct on the enhancements- the principal purpose of them is to eligibility for the death penalty. Life in prison without the possibility of parole is already an available sentence w/o the enhancements. I don't think the 5 count indictment reflects 5 enhancements. We'll have to wait and see- I can speculate, but I prefer not to.

[cece]

BLOCKED WEBSITE

[Catbert]

The article I read said she showed up in court with fresh scratches/cuts on her forehead stemming from a jailhouse incident earlier in the day....

trying to hurt herself again?
someone who doesn't like child molester/killers?

[JessStar]

Based on some media descriptions of MH (cuts and bruises), looks like some jailhouse justice is already being administered! 

[Catbert]

BLOCKED WEBSITE

[N2WISHN]

BLOCKED WEBSITE

[Tina Bee]

Huckaby Indicted On Murder, Rape, Kidnap Charges By Jury
The Associated Press
August 17, 2009


STOCKTON - A San Joaquin grand jury has indicted a Sunday school teacher on charges she kidnapped, raped and killed an 8-year-old girl and drugged two other people.

Twenty-eight-year-old Melissa Huckaby broke down in tears as Judge Linda Lofthus read the indictment against her Monday.

Prosecutors convened a grand jury in late July rather than hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether Huckaby would stand trial. A trial date has not been set.

Huckaby previously pleaded not guilty to murdering 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond in April.

She also pleaded not guilty to charges drugging a 7-year-old girl as well as a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had dated.

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-huckaby0817,0,7005606.story

[pink angel]

Melissa Huckaby Indicted on Five Counts in Connection With Sandra Cantu Murder Case
Created by Kimberlee Sakamoto on 8/17/2009 1:27:00 PM

STOCKTON (KRON) – The woman accused of killing and raping her 8-year-old neighbor has been indicted on five counts and is a potential candidate for the death penalty.

28-year-old Melissa Huckaby was originally supposed to appear in court in September, until the date was moved up to August 17th at 1 p.m.

In court, the district attorney said Huckaby is a prime candidate for the death penalty. When that sentence was mentioned, KRON 4's Terisa Estacio says the woman’s mother, Connie Lawless, started crying.

Huckaby was indicted on five counts, including murder, rape, kidnap, furnishing a harmful substance to a minor and furnishing a harmful substance to an adult.

Officials tell Terisa that the mother and former Sunday school teacher may have attempted suicide before the court hearing, by wrapping a sheet around her neck while in jail.

A gag order is in place, which prevents all involved parties from discussing the case with the media.

Huckaby is charged with taking Sandra Cantu from her Tracy home, sexually assaulting the child with a foreign object and killing her.  Sandra's body was later found in luggage left in an irrigation pond a couple of miles from the Orchard Estates Mobile home park where she disappeared.

She has pleaded not guilty of all charges and enhancements.

http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/2670/reftab/36/t/Melissa%20Huckaby%20Indicted%20on%20Five%20Counts%20in%20Connection%20With%20Sandra%20Cantu%20Murder%20Case/Default.aspx

[klaasend]

More of the same:

http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Indictment+against+tearful+Huckaby+read+in+court+today%20&id=3203614-Indictment+against+tearful+Huckaby+read+in+court+today&instance=home_news_lead_story

Indictment against tearful Huckaby read in court today
by Jennifer Wadsworth
Aug 17, 2009

STOCKTON — Tracy murder suspect Melissa Huckaby was indicted today on charges that she kidnapped, raped and intentionally killed an 8-year-old girl and drugged two other people.

The 28-year-old appeared in court this afternoon with two bright red scratches on her right temple and some on her left arm, apparently from an incident at the jail this morning that San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus mentioned was an attempt by Huckaby to get out of her court appearance.

“Hopefully something like this doesn't happen again,” Lofthus said.

Though she's heard them before, Huckaby broke down in tears when she heard the charges read against her. She looked quizzically at her public defender when the judge read the charge of child abuse and endangerment against a 7-year-old Huckaby allegedly drugged in January.

The single mother and one-time Sunday school teacher did not enter a plea to the charges handed down today. Her attorney Sam Behar said he needs more time because he has yet to review the indictment filed on July 31. Prosecutor Thomas Testa, apparently annoyed that Behar had yet to read the indictment, said the case needs to move along because there are underage witnesses whose memory may fade.

Prosecutors convened a grand jury in July instead of holding a preliminary hearing to decide if there's enough evidence to take the case to trial.

A trial date has not been set, but could be within a few months, prosecutors said. Lofthus said she wants to give the defense enough time to review the lengthy transcripts from July's grand jury proceeding before both sides can agree to a trial date.

Because of the special circumstances of rape and kidnapping, Huckaby does qualify for the death penalty.

“Until otherwise indicated, your honor, this is a death penalty case,” Testa said to the judge.

Huckaby previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering 8-year-old Tracy girl Sandra Cantu, a playmate of Huckaby's daughter. Sandra went missing in late March and her body was found days later stuffed in a suitcase.

Huckaby was arrested on April 10 and has since then been held without bail and in solitary confinement at the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.

Lofthus ordered Huckaby back in court on Sept. 10, when she's expected to enter a plea.

[pink angel]

Indictment against tearful Huckaby read in court today
by Jennifer Wadsworth
Aug 17, 2009

STOCKTON — Tracy murder suspect Melissa Huckaby was indicted today on charges that she kidnapped, raped and intentionally killed an 8-year-old girl and drugged two other people.

The 28-year-old appeared in court this afternoon with two bright red scratches on her right temple and some on her left arm, apparently from an incident at the jail this morning that San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus mentioned was an attempt by Huckaby to get out of her court appearance.

“Hopefully something like this doesn't happen again,” Lofthus said.

Though she's heard them before, Huckaby broke down in tears when she heard the charges read against her. She looked quizzically at her public defender when the judge read the charge of child abuse and endangerment against a 7-year-old Huckaby allegedly drugged in January.

The single mother and one-time Sunday school teacher did not enter a plea to the charges handed down today. Her attorney Sam Behar said he needs more time because he has yet to review the indictment filed on July 31. Prosecutor Thomas Testa, apparently annoyed that Behar had yet to read the indictment, said the case needs to move along because there are underage witnesses whose memory may fade.

Prosecutors convened a grand jury in July instead of holding a preliminary hearing to decide if there's enough evidence to take the case to trial.

A trial date has not been set, but could be within a few months, prosecutors said. Lofthus said she wants to give the defense enough time to review the lengthy transcripts from July's grand jury proceeding before both sides can agree to a trial date.

Because of the special circumstances of rape and kidnapping, Huckaby does qualify for the death penalty.

“Until otherwise indicated, your honor, this is a death penalty case,” Testa said to the judge.

Huckaby previously pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering 8-year-old Tracy girl Sandra Cantu, a playmate of Huckaby's daughter. Sandra went missing in late March and her body was found days later stuffed in a suitcase.

Huckaby was arrested on April 10 and has since then been held without bail and in solitary confinement at the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.

Lofthus ordered Huckaby back in court on Sept. 10, when she's expected to enter a plea.

http://www.tracypress.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Indictment+against+tearful+Huckaby+read+in+court+today%20&id=3203614-Indictment+against+tearful+Huckaby+read+in+court+today&instance=home_news_lead_story