Cook Continues to Insist on Innocence in Slaying

Pounding on the cinder block walls of his cell house, a sobbing Ramiro Cornejo Barreto claimed Friday that he is a victim of mistaken identity, not a ruthless cop killer and fugitive from Mexican justice.

“This is not right,” the Dana Point cook said, pushing away Mexican court documents that detail the crimes of an escaped felon who has eluded authorities since 1991. “This is not me. My whole life has been changed now.”

Barreto was arrested Wednesday as he dressed at his work locker in the Marriott Laguna Cliffs Resort, and he has been in federal custody since without bail. He and his attorney maintain, however, that he is not the man described by Mexican authorities as 5 feet, 2 inches and weighing 119 pounds with brown, straight hair.

Barreto, who has slightly wavy black hair, held up his arm Friday and pointed to his prisoner wristband, which lists his height as 5 feet 5 inches and puts his weight at 140 pounds.

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A federal prosecutor, however, said this week that enough evidence was provided to secure the arrest warrant that brought Barreto into custody. Assistant U.S. Atty. Linda Oprian said Thursday that the prisoner “fits the description of the person who is wanted in Mexico and uses the same name.”

According to federal court documents, a Ramiro Cornejo Barreto used a submachine gun to rob a Tijuana jewelry store on May 5, 1989. As he raced toward the border, police intercepted him and Judicial Police Officer Soto Beltran was killed in a shootout. Barreto was captured and jailed. On July 26, 1991, he escaped, records show.

Now, U.S. authorities say that escaped suspect is sitting in the Santa Ana Detention Facility. But Deputy Public Defender Craig Wilke contends they have made a terrible error.

“They believe they have the right guy, or they wouldn’t have arrested him,” Wilke said. “I don’t think anybody is acting in bad faith here, but the bureaucracy can drag things out. And we’re dealing with two bureaucracies here.”

Barreto is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 7. Wilke said he hopes to acquire tax or employee records to show his client was not in Mexico when the robbery was committed and when the suspect was behind bars.

Wilke also is pushing U.S. officials to demand fingerprints and a prisoner mug shot from Mexican authorities to settle the issue of Barreto’s identity.

As a prisoner awaiting extradition proceedings, Barreto has no right to bail. He said he is worried about being away from his wife, Maura, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

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Barreto said he has been in the United States since 1984, starting a family, obtaining citizenship and working on farms and in kitchens. He denies that he was in Mexico when authorities say he robbed the jewelry store and served two years in prison.

“Always, I have respected the law,” he said. “I have respected the police and worked hard at work and school. I have no time for gangs or to instigate things.”

Barreto said he worked for Buffy’s Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano between 1989 and 1991, which coincides with the time the Mexican fugitive was serving his prison sentence. Owners of Buffy’s said Friday that payroll records for that period are in storage, but should be available in the next few days.