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Courts & Crime

Killer Convicted in 1988 Santa Maria Cold Case

Re: People v. Aloysius JamesSanta Barbara Superior Court Case No 24CR02219 SANTA MARIA, Calif., February 27, 2026 — Santa Barbara


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Re: People v. Aloysius James
Santa Barbara Superior Court Case No 24CR02219

SANTA MARIA, Calif., February 27, 2026 — Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced today a jury returned a verdict of guilty against defendant Aloysius James of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of murder in the commission of the rape of thirty- year-old Ofelia Sandoval, who was killed on September 18, 1988, in Santa Maria, California. Sentencing is set for April 14th in Department 6 of the Santa Maria division of the Santa Barbara Superior Court. The defendant is facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.