A man accused of fatally stabbing another homeless person on a Ventura bike path in July 2022 has pleaded guilty to murder, according to Ventura County Superior Court records.
Pedro Munoz, 43, of Ventura, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to one count of first-degree murder and admitted to eight special allegations, including that he used a deadly weapon, that the crime involved great violence and that he was on parole at the time of the offense, court records show. Such allegations can lead to increased prison sentences if found true.
Munoz retained his not guilty pleas for one count each of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer or EMT, giving false information to a police officer and possession of a controlled
substance, records show. Those counts, according to records, will be dismissed at the sentencing hearing, which is set for Nov. 2.
On July 23, 2022, Munoz used a knife to stab Marcos Guzman Reyes to death on a bike path in Ventura's Montalvo neighborhood.
Both men were homeless and staying in the same area, and video surveillance captured both men entering the path and then Munoz fleeing the area, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Reyes was discovered with multiple stab wounds.
Ventura Police Department officers arrested Munoz three days later. He was wearing the same shoes he wore during the stabbing, and the blood on them was tested and confirmed to be Reyes', according to the DA's office.
Munoz, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, is expected to be sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison. He remains in jail without bail, records show.
“After four years, I hope the defendant’s decision to accept responsibility for Marcos’ murder willfinally allow the victim’s family to begin moving forward,” Deputy District Attorney Kalin Woodward wrote in a news release.
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism. The foundation plays no role in story selection. The Star retains full editorial control.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Man pleads guilty to fatal 2022 stabbing in Ventura
