Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Both sides are preparing for a weekslong trial next year for the man accused of murdering Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer. Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 31, is accused in the Sept. 16, 2023, shooting of Clinkunbroomer, a Palmdale Sheriff’s Station deputy from the Santa Clarita Valley, murdered in what the Sheriff’s Department called an “unprovoked ambush” at the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q. Judge Scott Andrew Yang said the proceedings, estimated to last about five weeks, could move to a “long-form” court room, such as Department 100 in Downtown Los Angeles, which is better-suited to handle such a long trial, according to the transcripts from Monday’s hearing. As a result, both attorneys said they were trying to block out an appropriate amount of time starting in March in order to have the proceedings, according to the court transcripts of Monday’s hearing. “We were thinking we should pick five weeks and, in a sense, write it in blood,” said defense attorney Kevin George Rosenstock, who’s representing Salazar, per the court record. “In other words, it’s going to go on in that five-week window.” March 9 was the date agreed to by both sides, with a several-day break needed toward the end of that month. Part of the cause for the extensive trial time is that fact that it’s a “special circumstances” case, which means the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office could pursue the death penalty or life without parole in the event Salazar is convicted, according to Monday’s proceedings. The DA’s Office previously indicated it would not seek the death penalty in Clinkunbroomer’s case. Yang said the move downtown is something being “contemplated,” because the trial calls for a longer time period and a more experienced judge than one available in the Antelope Valley Courthouse. That move could help Salazar, as his attorney has previously questioned whether his client could receive a fair trial in the Antelope Valley due to the extensive coverage surrounding the shooting death. In a May brief, Rosenstock said he’s already seen evidence of bias from the community in the conversation surrounding the crime his client is accused of committing, “especially in a community where law enforcement personnel live and work.” L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger named the Castaic Sports Complex in Clinkunbroomer’s honor last month on the two-year anniversary of his death. Rosenstock also cited the fact that the Antelope Valley community has a sheriff’s station, prison and police department that all present potential bias. While Salazar was declared mentally competent to stand trial, Rosenstock indicated his defense would revolve around mental health issues for his client. “For my part, I’m just going to be dealing with mental health professionals and their schedules can be kind of squirrelly at times. That’s going to be a little bit of a wild card,” he said, with both sides agreeing to a January pretrial hearing for scheduling purposes. Yang said he would know then for sure whether the trial would be in Downtown Los Angeles. Rosenstock’s only question to that was whether the jury pool would be the same in either case. “I don’t believe so, Mr. Rosenstock,” was Yang’s answer.
