SANTA CRUZ — Mario Lozano, the 37-year-old man accused of stabbing 17-year-old Isaac Guzman to death in Watsonville in 2004, made his first appearance in court Friday to face a first degree murder charge.
With the possibility of life in prison hanging over his head, Lozano was led into Superior Court garbed in orange jail-issue attire wearing shackles at the waist, wrist and ankles. A large body of Guzman’s family and friends filled a portion of the courtroom to face Lozano in person for the first time since the Dec. 3, 2004 homicide on Airport Boulevard.
Judge Stephen Siegel read the charge and mentioned that Lozano committed the attack for a criminal street gang.
Lozano was asked if he had an attorney, which he did not, so the court appointed a public defender and maintained his bail at $5 million. Lozano did say he was working at the time of his arrest.
Police and investigators from Santa Cruz County were joined by the FBI in tracking Lozano down in February in Mexicali, Mexico. He was flown back to the U.S. this week and taken into custody.
Outside of court, Guzman’s mother, Violet Guzman, of Watsonville, said, “I’m without words. I couldn’t look at him. I can’t believe what he did to my son. Knowing that he was there a couple yards away from me — it was very difficult — to see him, hear his name. I did see him glancing my way in the courtroom. This thing is just beginning. I can’t sleep and think straight.”
According to a Pajaronian article on Sept. 27, 2004, about two months before the stabbing incident, Lozano showed at the emergency room at Watsonville Community Hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm. Initial reports stated that he was shot on the 200 block of Prospect Street around 11 p.m.
It is unknown if the two incidents are related.
Siegel ordered Lozano to return to court for a further arraignment on Aug. 8 in Dept. 6 at 9 a.m.
