LOS ANGELES - Anthony Caballero potentially faced the death penalty two years ago when he was charged with murder in connection with his cousin's alleged string of three killings.
But this afternoon he took the witness stand a free man, having accepted a plea bargain in which he admitted to a lesser charge in exchange for his testimony.
Caballero, of Pomona, testified that he didn't know his cousin planned to allegedly strangle a woman in November 2009 when his cousin asked for a ride into the San Gabriel Mountains.
The 25-year-old said he believed his cousin, Robert Caballero, was making the trip up Mount Baldy Road to party and possibly have sex. Two women and one of Caballero's male friends, Pete Trejo, came along on the daytime trip.
Anthony Caballero testified that he didn't learn the truth about Robert Caballero's trip until several days later, when he heard his cousin's name on the news and saw pictures on TV of the spot where he dropped off the group.
According to prosecutors, Robert Caballero allegedly strangled one of the women, 32-year-old Lorraine Minjarez, and with the assistance of Trejo buried her in a shallow grave near Mount Baldy Road.
Anthony Caballero's testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Robert Caballero, Trejo, and Andrew Valenzuela, three alleged Pomona gang members charged with murder in connection with three slayings in September and November 2009.
Prosecutors have charged Robert Caballero, 33, with three counts of murder: for Minjarez's slaying, for David Padilla's killing in Chino the following day, and for the Sept. 29, 2009 shooting death in Pomona of Armando Vidana.
Trejo, 28, is accused of helping Robert Caballero kill Minjarez, while Valenzuela, 20, is accused of killing Padilla - a member of the same Pomona gang - upon orders from Caballero.
The preliminary hearing, in which prosecutors must present evidence against the defendants for the case to proceed to trial, is set to resume Friday morning in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles.
Anthony Caballero testified that his cousin called him asking for a ride home at about 8:30 a.m. the day of Minjarez's killing.
But when Anthony arrived at the house in Pomona where his cousin was staying, Robert suggested a trip into the mountains.
He promised Anthony Caballero that he'd be back in Pomona in time for Anthony to take his wife to the hospital that afternoon for a scheduled surgery, according to Anthony's testimony.
From the time he met with his cousin to the time he left him that afternoon, Anthony Caballero said he never suspected his cousin killed one of the women on the trip.
He said the group appeared normal, and Minjarez seemed to be in a good mood. She was singing during the trip into the mountains, Anthony Caballero testified.
He said the only passenger in his car who seemed abnormal was Robert Caballero's girlfriend. The woman, then 18, seemed like he was high, he testified.
It was shortly after 10 a.m. when Robert directed Anthony to pull over in the mountains on the side of the road. Robert Caballero, Trejo and the two women then set off east down a trail, Anthony Caballero testified.
Several hours passed and the group hadn't returned, so Anthony set off down Mount Baldy Road to an area where he got reception on his cell phone. He testified that he had to call his wife to explain he'd be late in picking her up for her surgery.
When Anthony drove back up Mount Baldy Road after placing the call, he saw Robert Caballero, Trejo and the then-18-year-old woman walking on the side of the road.
Anthony asked his cousin where the other woman was, and Robert replied, "Don't worry about her," according to Anthony's testimony.
Anthony Caballero's testimony verified much of the account of Minjarez's slaying given in testimony the last two days by Caballero's former girlfriend. She completed her testimony this morning.