A North Park man who cut off the ponytail from a Native American man and then stabbed him to death was sentenced March 11 to 26 years to life in state prison.

Alberto Jorge Barraza, 35, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury on Feb. 3 in the 2022 death of Nikko Guardado, 23. Barraza allegedly cut his ponytail off to humiliate him, according to witnesses.

“My son was a proud Native American,” said his father Ernest Guardado to the judge. “He not only stole his hair, he stole his pride.”

“He scalped my son,” stated Guardado, referring to Barraza, adding that he committed “a hate crime.”

Nikko Guardado was asleep in a red Ford Focus on March 26, 2022 when the driver visited some people in a Bancroft Street residence where Barraza lived, according to trial testimony. Once Barraza learned Guardado was asleep in the car, he went outside and cut his ponytail off, as the two did not like each other, according to testimony.

“What are you doing? Stop!” yelled a startled Guardado, according to trial testimony.

Guardado thrashed about the car and Barraza cut an artery under his left knee which caused a loss of blood in the car, according to Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy.

The driver quickly tried to drive Guardado to a hospital, but was stopped by San Diego Police for reckless driving. Police called an ambulance, but Guardado died several hours later in a hospital.

Reedy sought a first-degree murder conviction from the jury with the allegation that Barraza cut the ponytail and essentially robbed Barraza of his hair under the felony murder theory. In general, people who commit a robbery in which someone has died are guilty of first-degree murder.

Reedy urged San Diego Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin to impose the mandatory 25 years to life term and add one consecutive year for use of a knife in the homicide.

Kirvin ordered Barraza to pay $1,890 for the victim’s funeral and $8,418 in transportation costs to the victim’s family to come to San Diego to attend the trial.

“He had this gift of gab. If you met him, you remembered him,” said the victim’s mother, Melanie Martinez. “He had this light. I’m lost without him. He was my light.”

“There will never be closure. We become like broken glass,” said Brenden Martinez, the victim’s stepfather. “Due to these recent events, my wife has lost her faith.”

“Having Nikko gone is indescribable,” said his youngest brother, Xander Martinez. “Nikko loved me. I wish I could see his face again.”

“The lives of Indigeousness men and boys are always important to us,” wrote Scottie Not Afraid, a college friend of the victim that was read aloud. “Nikko’s (life) ended too soon. It was a vicious and ugly way to leave the world.”

Barraza did not say anything at sentencing or testify at trial. He told the probation department he did not kill the victim when they prepared a report for sentencing.

“Our world changed forever,” said a young girl who was the victim’s cousin. “We miss him every day.”

The judge gave Barraza credit for 64 days spent in jail. Barraza posted $250,000 bond after his arrest and was only remanded to jail after he was convicted.

He will have to serve a minimum of 25 years before he can be considered eligible for parole, and that will be in 2050.

Crédito de la foto: Pixabay.com