Lake Elsinore Rodeo Queen's Killer Finally Sentenced

Update posted 2/25 p.m.:

Though it took almost a year from the time he was convicted, a Perris man was finally sentenced today for the murder of a former Lake Elsinore rodeo queen who made the fatal mistake of believing "he was her friend.''

During his eighth sentencing hearing in 10 months, Ryan Berry Vierwinden, 27, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for killing 23-year-old Krishana Leann French. Vierwinden was convicted of first-degree murder last April.

"I'm very happy the sentencing finally occurred,'' said Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Laura Ozols. "For almost a year to go by from the date of conviction is very unusual.''

Vierwinden's attorney -- his third since April -- Adrian Baca argued today that his client should receive a new trial, citing ineffectiveness of counsel in the defendant's original trial, as well as juror misconduct. But Superior Court Judge Helios J. Hernandez denied the motion.

Baca's belated filing of the new trial motion led Ozols to request a postponement of Vierwinden's Feb. 4 sentencing, the prosecutor said. The half-dozen sentencing delays before that were all requested by the defense.

Ozols and the victim's mother and brother -- the latter exercising their right under the California Victims' Bill of Rights Act, better known as "Marsy's Law'' -- objected to Hernandez's decision to continue the sentencing hearing in December.

Since his conviction, Vierwinden has been charged with possessing drugs in jail.

According to Ozols, the defendant's girlfriend, Brenda Devino, allegedly smuggled the contraband to him in August, resulting in felony charges against the pair. That case has yet to be disposed.

Vierwinden fired his first attorney, Victor Marshall, shortly after he was convicted. Until August, the defendant acted as his own counsel, and then requested that another lawyer be appointed to him, which Hernandez permitted.

That attorney, Arpa Stepanian, declared an unspecified conflict in December, and Hernandez allowed Vierwinden to hire Baca.

In August 2009, Vierwinden's co-defendant, Benjamin Matthew Medina, 37, was also convicted of murdering French and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

According to trial testimony, French and the defendants ran in the same circles and did drugs together.

On the day of the murder, Medina got angry when French went joyriding in a Lincoln Navigator stolen by one of his associates.

French had taken the vehicle despite being told several times not to, which Medina viewed as "disrespectful,'' according to court papers.

The defendants and friends were partying at a Comfort Inn in Moreno Valley, using methamphetamine, when Medina told Vierwinden that French "needed to be taken care of,'' documents state.

French was closer to Vierwinden and trusted him, so the defendants arranged to have him meet her in a room at the motel, according to Ozols.

"Krishana believed he was her friend,'' the prosecutor said. "He lured her into a feeling of safety in order for somebody else to murder her. It's horrible.''

Vierwinden signaled Medina via his mobile phone when French was distracted, giving Medina the opportunity to slip into the room and confront her, Ozols said.

She said Medina corralled French in the bathroom, where he pistol-whipped and strangled her with Vierwinden's assistance.

He helped Medina dispose of the woman's body, which was dumped in a Riverside orange grove and set ablaze.

The former Lake Elsinore Junior Miss Rodeo Queen's remains were discovered two weeks later and identified from dental records.

Medina was arrested around that time after trying to set his estranged wife on fire, and Vierwinden was implicated soon after.

"Mr. Vierwinden deserves every one of the 25 years he got,'' Ozols said, adding that the chances of him ever being paroled were "very slim.'' --City News Service

Orignal story posted 2/25 a.m.:

The eighth sentencing hearing in as many months is scheduled today for a Perris man facing 25 years to life in prison for killing a former Lake Elsinore rodeo queen.

Ryan Berry Vierwinden, 27, was convicted last April of first-degree murder for the slaying of 23-year-old Krishana Leann French.

He is on his third attorney since his trial ended. His new attorney, Adrian Baca, submitted a 51-page motion for a new trial just before the defendant's last sentencing hearing on Feb. 4, giving Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Laura Ozols insufficient time to respond.

Superior Court Judge Helios J. Hernandez granted Ozols' motion to reset the sentencing for today, during which arguments will also be heard on the motion. The previous sentencing delays were sought by the defense.

Ozols and the victim's mother and brother -- the latter exercising their right under the California Victims' Bill of Rights Act, better known a "Marsy's Law'' -- objected to Hernandez's decision to continue the sentencing hearing in December.

Meanwhile, Vierwinden has been charged with a new crime -- possessing drugs in jail. According to Ozols, the defendant's girlfriend, Brenda Devino, allegedly smuggled the contraband to him in August, resulting in felony charges against the pair.

Vierwinden fired his first attorney, Victor Marshall, shortly after he was convicted. Until August, the defendant acted as his own counsel, and then requested that  another lawyer be appointed to him, which Hernandez permitted.

That attorney, Arpa Stepanian, declared an unspecified conflict in December, and Hernandez allowed Vierwinden to hire Baca.

In August 2009, Vierwinden's co-defendant, Benjamin Matthew Medina, 37, was also convicted of murdering French and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

According to prosecutors, French and the defendants ran in the same circles and did drugs together.

On the day of the murder, Medina got angry when French went joyriding in a Lincoln Navigator stolen by one of his associates. French had taken the vehicle despite being told several times not to, which Medina viewed as "disrespectful,'' according to court papers.

The defendants and friends were partying at a Comfort Inn in Moreno Valley, using methamphetamine, when Medina told Vierwinden that French "needed to be taken care of,'' documents state.

French was closer to Vierwinden and trusted him, so the defendants arranged to have him meet her in a room at the motel, according to Ozols.

Vierwinden signaled Medina via his mobile phone when French was distracted, giving Medina the opportunity to slip into the room and confront her, the prosecutor said.

Ozols said Medina corralled French in the bathroom, where he pistol-whipped and strangled her with Vierwinden's assistance. He helped Medina dispose of the woman's body, which was dumped in a Riverside orange grove and set ablaze.

The former Lake Elsinore Junior Miss Rodeo Queen's remains were discovered two weeks later and identified from dental records.

Medina was arrested around that time after trying to set his estranged wife on fire, and Vierwinden was implicated soon after. --City News Service