Simi Valley Man Convicted in Pizzeria Murder : Courts: Dusty Tyrone Castillo found guilty of killing restaurant manager. He is the last of three teens charged in the case.

The last of three men charged with the 1993 robbery and murder of a 19-year-old Porter Ranch pizzeria manager was found guilty Friday in San Fernando Superior Court.

Dusty Tyrone Castillo, 18, of Simi Valley, was convicted of murder with the special circumstance that it was committed during the commission of a robbery, and of robbery, for the Jan. 14, 1993, killing of John Michael Holden.

The jury, after deliberating nearly four days over a two-week period, also found Castillo guilty of 11 unrelated robberies, an attempted robbery and four assaults during a crime spree from November, 1992, to January, 1993.

Castillo faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Aug. 16.

After the jury’s verdict, Castillo’s attorney, Jenny Scovis, requested a supplemental probation report to determine if Castillo could serve the first part of his sentence in a juvenile facility.

Judge Charles L. Peven said he would consider such a request, but is inclined to sentence Castillo to state prison.

“Your client has exhibited himself to be an extreme danger to society,” Peven said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Mason said he would ask for a sentence of life in state prison.

Carol Holden, the victim’s mother, attended separate court proceedings for the three defendants--Castillo, Alex Velasquez, 19, and Oscar Villanueva, 18--beginning with juvenile court hearings that resulted in all three being tried as adults.

Holding back tears outside the courtroom, Holden said that although the judicial proceedings are nearly over, she will be forever without her son.

“No matter what sentence [Castillo] gets, my son is still gone,” she said. “But at least if he is in prison, no one else will be killed. I’m fully convinced that he would have killed again if he was free.”

According to police, Castillo, Velasquez and Villanueva approached the Ameci In & Out Pizza and Pasta restaurant in Porter Ranch the evening of Jan. 14, 1993. While Villanueva waited in the car, Castillo and Velasquez confronted Holden and demanded money.

Holden turned over $450, but Castillo shot him once in the chest anyway. Holden later died at a hospital.

Villanueva and Velasquez were arrested soon after the incident, but Castillo eluded police for nearly nine months. He was arrested in San Luis Obispo County in October, 1993.

Earlier this year, both Villanueva and Velasquez agreed to plea-bargains with prosecutors. Villanueva pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison, although he is being allowed to serve the first seven years in a juvenile facility. Velasquez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in exchange for a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.