I am here asking for your help. I know my Joey isn’t the only one who has been charged unfairly, not given the same consideration because of a crime he committed as a minor. Someone who has worked so hard for freedom. He lost his prime years of life. In at 17 and out just a month before 60.
Here is his story…
This is a Fundraiser is for a man named Joey Castaneda formerly “Tamayo”. In 1976, Joey was involved in gang life and anything that goes with that lifestyle ending with a crime that would change his life. Paying his debt to society with 42 years of his life.
Along with 6 other minors and two adults, A crime was committed. The one who orchestrated it, turned state evidence and did no time. The others decided to use Joey as the scapegoat, all testifying against him. They all served 2 years or less. He had no lawyer, just the public defender. He was sentenced to 7 years to life. He served his time being moved to several prisons in California. Every time he went to parole, they denied him. He couldn’t say anything right.
Joey decided to finish school. He graduated and received his GED. He received recognition for starting a scared straight program for youth offenders. He started a stamp collection, purchasing stamps from fellow inmates. His collection was amazing and was recognized by elite stamp collectors. Joey played soccer and started as defense going to forward. His team earned the championship with him scoring many goals in key games for 5 years. He brought home 6 trophies.
Joey grew up in custody but he never gave up hope that someday he would come home. He attended catechism and was Baptized, made his First Communion and Confirmation.
He worked every day. He started taking classes, he was given an opportunity to attend the local college receiving several certifications including Healthcare facilities Maintenance, Orientation and safety handling, Cleaning Chemicals, Floor Care and Floor Care Maintenance, Maintaining Floors and other surfaces, Carpet and Upholstery Care, Restroom Care, Industrial Safety, Special Safety and Hazmat Training. Prison Medical Facility Certification, he cleaned doctor and nurse offices, special equipment rooms and assisted with patients who were facing their last days.
He worked in the laundry room and continued his education receiving his certifications for Washroom Technician, Licensed Forklift Operator, Flat Iron Technician, Skyline Folder and Lead Press, and Vocational Sewing Machine Certification spending 6 years as a Journeyman along with learning Upholstery.
Prison life is no joke, the ugly part, he was shot in the face and body during a yard fight, by guards with pellet guns, He barely survived and he still carries these pellets in his body. He was sent to solitary confinement for 8 years. He was expected to carry out task to stay safe but did not join any gangs. You don’t have choices in prison and sleep is optional. You sleep with your socks on and one eye open.
He read about a new proposition approved by voters for minors who committed crimes and charged as adults. He sent in a Habis Corpus and an investigation was started. The investigator visited him and spend weeks interviewing him, checking his records and accomplishments. She couldn’t understand why he was not released 20 years prior. The parole board was interviewed and questioned on their decisions to keep him. The investigation was concluded and at his next parole hearing he was granted his freedom. 42 years served.
Joey came home, his mother had passed, 3 sisters passed and his brother had passed, He has 2 sisters and me, his wife. He has a daughter and my three kids; He has grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I’ve known Joey since I was 15, my first kiss. Joey started working at People Ready after completing all his Parole obligations and classes for reentering society. He asked me to marry him and I did. He has been the perfect husband, he doesn’t drink, smoke or do drugs. He has worked every day. He paid for our small wedding, my rings, my dress, shoes everything. Our 8th year anniversary is June 29th. We should be celebrating this, our grandchildren’s birthdays and life’s milestones.
He holds my hand everywhere we go and we attend church regularly. He is a warehouse worker for about 8 years. He paid all the utilities; He is home after work and doesn’t go anywhere without me. We have been deep sea fishing, camping, the beach, Vegas, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona and several places in between. I want him to do everything he dreamed of, the things we take for granted.
His first casino jackpot, he paid off my car. On my 60th birthday he purchased a timeshare so we could retire and travel. He built up a 401K. We have our burial plots paid for and life insurance incase anything happens to him first. I retired and have had 3 spine surgeries. I was using a walker when he came home. He held my hand and patiently helped me walk again. He repeated this after I had 2 more surgeries and I can walk and even dance a little. He takes our autistic grandson to Mc Donalds every Friday after school, who now cries every other day asking where is his grandpa? He takes the others to the store, dr appts on his day off. He washes the car, the truck. We have so much to be thankful for.
He volunteers at The Local FOE /506, I am the Publicist and the Worthy Chaplain. We spend a lot of time there, volunteering to support the many charities and raising money for the organization, he is loved by many for always being available to assist with any tasks.
He is loved by the family and helps all our family member whenever needed. He loves helping others and he loves me. He should be home, working and supporting his family and enjoying the retirement he deserves.
On March 15th, we attended Guadalupe Church for 7pm mass, we came home. We were getting ready for bed when one of our grandchildren came in and told Joey that her dad was fighting in front of our home, so Joey put on his shoes and ran outside.
Joey is 67 years old, high blood pressure and diabetic, my son in law has had 3 major heart attacks and dozens of small ones starting in 2025. Just a few weeks before, he was on his death BED slowly recovering in and out of the hospital, unable to get up, breathe regularly, in and out of consciousness. Knowing this Joey went to intervene.
One of these young men, the main aggressor was a guest of the next-door neighbor; (we later found out he was a member of a local street gang). He was relentless, he kept shouting “I want the smoke, I want the fight! Over and over, he was beating his chest like a gorilla. He was yelling at his friend to get his gun and for him to shoot him. He kept taunting and arguing with my son in law. When I walked out, I saw Joey on the ground, his glasses in the street and he was foggy.
I walked out to the street in front of our house and yelled at that man to leave, to shut up and leave, he doesn’t even live here. As I was walking away. I saw this ugly man continuing to scream and start walking toward my son in law to fight with him again. Joey came out and shot toward him and missed. That man still didn’t stop; He kept going toward our son in law.
I don’t believe Joey wanted to kill him; he just wanted him to stop. Joey was flushed, I was in shock, I went inside and told Joey, lets go, were going to the hospital, you don’t look good.
The police eventually took my husband and released me. I drove home. When I went a few days later to the jail to see him. He told me they stopped at a medical center and had him checked. He was laying in the back seat. His sugar level was over 500 and his high blood pressure was thru the roof. He received 2 insulin shots and 2 IV bags of fluids and medication to bring down his blood pressure.
He lost his job for abandonment, and he is now sitting in jail. He was charged with ‘attempted murderer’’ possession of a firearm and ammo. I don’t know how they came to that conclusion but the so-called victim who was actually the aggressor walked out of the hospital with NO Life-Threatening Injuries!
I am angry and hurt, my husband who was protecting our family is sitting in jail. Facing trumped up charges. Murder, not Self Defense, not defense of his home and his family.
I kept this all inside until my son in Texas sent me a message and attached a video that someone sent him. I told him not to respond. There was music playing, there we were my husband and I being detained, a picture of an officer putting a tourniquet on that guy’s leg like a hero. I wanted to vomit. It showed my car, our house, and a locked gun case and they made it to appear that we were fleeing the scene not leaving our home to get medical attention for Joey.
We did not get an opportunity to tell them what happened. They just made it up.
After that, I came out and told our side of the story. The truth about what really happened.
What happened next, left me in tears… The response is overwhelming. I started receiving donations for his legal fees. Big donations from the very people who knew him, who know us, who have felt his kindness, people he has helped, people who have witnessed him taking care of his family … I have almost $10,000. I need $30,000 and I am almost a third there. When ever I feel overwhelmed with grief, God sends another person to contribute… I feel blessed to have so many family and friends, former co-workers who see me and tuck money into my hands and say “for Joey”.
I don’t believe consequences crossed his mind only the safety of our family and for this I can not fault him, I must do whatever I can to bring him home and fight for the Justice he deserves, the justice he has earned…
Psalm 23.3
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Please consider donating to “Justice 4 Joey” so he can be properly represented by a real lawyer who cares about Truth, Reason and Justice. I humbly thank you for your consideration.
Rosemary Esparza Castaneda
