Trial In 2021 Murder Of Anza Resident Slated To Begin This Week

ANZA, CA ? Trial proceedings are scheduled to begin Tuesday for a 38-year-old convicted felon accused of killing an Anza resident during a dispute and then going to Northern California, where he was apprehended.

Benjamin Franklin Winkle was arrested in November 2021 by Placer County Sheriff's Department personnel after he allegedly committed unspecified crimes in that area. Winkle was returned to Riverside County within a week.

The defendant is charged with murder, witness intimidation, being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the slaying of 37-year-old Michael Mendoza.

During a hearing last week at the Southwest Justice Center, Superior Court Judge John Monterosso tentatively scheduled a pretrial hearing for Tuesday, but it was unclear whether the defense would be prepared. Winkle's public defender has previously requested postponements due to scheduling conflicts tied to other cases.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Sgt. Richard Carroll of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department alleged that on the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2021, Winkle and Mendoza were involved in a confrontation related to prior conflicts in the 61200 block of Indian Paint Brush Road in Anza.

During the dispute, the defendant pulled a handgun and shot the victim multiple times, according to the sergeant.

Winkle left before deputies arrived, but investigators soon confirmed his identity, culminating in a warrant being issued for his arrest, Carroll said.

He said Placer County officials notified homicide detectives in Perris during the last week of November 2021 that the defendant was behind bars. Intrastate extradition proceedings began immediately.

According to court records, Winkle has a prior felony conviction in another jurisdiction, but details were unavailable. He has a prior misdemeanor conviction in Riverside County for being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle.