Three defendants involved in an ambush killing of a man stabbed to death near Trabuco Creek in San Juan Capistrano pleaded guilty Thursday and were scheduled to be sentenced Monday.
Anjelica Marie Shibata, 34, of San Juan Capistrano, Ashkan Dezhangfard, 28, of San Juan Capistrano, and Siavash Hosseinaliarhani, 25, of Laguna Niguel, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder just as attorneys were picking a jury for their trial. The three are scheduled to be sentenced Monday as jury selection will begin for the trial of the last remaining defendant, Brion Cairo Hyde, 28, of San Juan Capistrano.
The punishment for second-degree murder is 15 years to life in prison. Hyde, who is charged with murder with a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait for the victim, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.
Shibata and Hyde were living together as a couple in San Juan Capistrano, but Shibata was also romantically involved with Alvaro Rios when the 38-year-old married father was killed, authorities said.
Shibata allegedly asked Rios to meet her in a remote area near a bike path in San Juan Capistrano in the early morning of July 12, 2016. All of the defendants were allegedly there when Rios was attacked and left for dead. A jogger found the body the next day and called the sheriff’s department.
When Rios’ wife found out about the affair, she started posting negative comments about Shibata on Facebook, according to Jones’ attorney Doug Myers
Investigators suspect Shibata told Hyde that Rios had raped her, and then the two told the others about the alleged sexual assault, which led to the alleged ambush, the defense attorney said.
Myers alleged that two of the defendants brought knives to the planned beating and attacked the victim, but it is unclear which defendant dealt the fatal wound.
It’s not clear if the rape allegation is true or not, Myers said when his client pleaded guilty.
Ryan Timothy Huebner, 27, pleaded guilty April 30, 2021, to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Huebner is eligible for parole in December 2024, according to state prison records.
Myles Emmanuel Jones, 27, of Laguna Hills pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2019, to voluntary manslaughter. Jones, who has been in jail since July 22, 2016, is set to be sentenced Sept. 2.
Jones, who also faces 11 years in prison, is expected to have his murder charge dismissed after testifying in the trial.