Two men will be tried on Healdsburg pot garden murder charges

A judge ruled that there is sufficient evidence to try two men on murder charges for a slaying at a Healdsburg pot garden.

Sidonio Cruz-Santos, 35, of Santa Rosa, and Augustin Zepeda-Onofre, 23, of Windsor, face life sentences if convicted in the Oct. 16 killing of Gabino Lopez Santiago, 46, near West Dry Creek Road.

Judge Gary Medvigy ruled that they could stand trial after a preliminary hearing Monday. He set the next hearing for March 8.

The victim's brother-in-law, Ramon Lopez Velasco, 28, of Healdsburg, testified against the two men in exchange for a lesser charge. He said they forced him at gunpoint to dump Santiago's body on Mill Creek Road.

Sgt. Carlos Basurto of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office testified that another witness, Conrado Valentine Cruz, told detectives he saw Cruz-Santos and Zepeda-Onofre fire guns at the victim.

The victim was found with two gunshot wounds, prosecutor Anne Masterson said.