A second criminal trial was scheduled in the case of Anthony Murillo, the Orcutt rapper accused of making threats to two victims of sexual assault in a song he posted to the internet in 2013.
Murillo’s attorney Bill Makler appeared before Judge Gustavo Lavayen on Jan. 11 to ask for another delay in the case, this time for seven weeks.
Lavayen expressed reluctance at Makler’s request, but ultimately granted it.
Makler asked for the delay because he said new information on the case emerged shortly before his client’s court appearance. Makler wouldn’t elaborate on the new information.
Murillo’s case was originally tried in 2013, yet the charges were dismissed by two Santa Barbara County Superior Court judges who ruled the song was considered free speech.
Also known as Lil A, Murillo released his song “Moment for Life Remix” on the website reverbnation.com, garnering thousands of replays and downloads. The song was removed shortly afterward.
The song references a criminal case involving Murillo’s friend, former St. Joseph High School student Shane Villalpando, who served a year in jail for having unlawful sex with underage classmates. Villalpando was 18 at the time.
The county District Attorney’s Office filed an appeal on the 2013 decisions in the Murillo case. It was ultimately granted in July 2015, setting the stage for a second trial.
Makler told the Sun that the trial is scheduled for March 2 or immediately following that date. The trial is expected to last seven days, according to court records.
“We did what we had to do,” Makler told the Sun. “We asked for more time because there’s some more information that we have to explore in order to ensure Mr. Murillo gets a fair trial.”
This article appears in Jan 19-26, 2017.