Latest news with #Riano
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Jury reaches verdict in 20-year-old Hamilton murder
Jun. 13—A jury of 12 said Friday afternoon that Antonio Riano, the 63-year-old Mexican national indicted in a December 2004 murder, was guilty of murder when he shot and killed Benjamin Becarra. The verdict came back less than two hours after being sent to deliberate. Riano faces an 18 years to life sentence on the charge of murder, which includes a three-year gun specification. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14. Before Friday morning's closing arguments, Riano's defense team argued for Butler County Judge Michael Oster to allow the jury to consider voluntary manslaughter in addition to murder. Oster ruled, however, there was insufficient evidence in a video that showed the defendant shoot the 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra on Long Street, outside the Round House Bar in December 2004. The defense objected to that ruling. Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress told the jury during closing arguments that the victim was "executed" less than an hour after Riano purchased ammunition for the firearm used in Becarra's killing. A minute before Becarra was shot, he told his cousin, "he's got a gun, he's going to kill me," Burress said, quoting the witness. "Talk about foreshadowing," Burress told the jury. "A human being was shot in the head. He was shot in cold blood by this defendant." Defense attorney Kara Blackney said they've never denied that her client shot Becarra, but it was because the younger man terrorized him. "He was not there to show up for a fight," Blackney said. Riano as trying to end the terrorism allegedly led by Becarra. She said the police never helped him, and decided to face Becarra. Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hon, who is part of the prosecution team, said Blackney was right, that Riano wasn't looking for a fight, but rather to carry out "vigilante justice." Hon said the people around shown in the video are scared of Riano, using his "El Diablo" nickname multiple times. "They outnumbered him," Hon said. "If they are terrorizing him, why not jump him, beat the crap out of him. It's because he's 'El Diablo.' They're scared of him." On Dec. 19, 2004, Riano, then 42 years old, shot Becarra in the head with a .38 Smith & Wesson following an argument on Long Street. The defense said it was self-defense, claiming he and his family were terrorized by Becarra, who at the time of the shooting had a blood-alcohol level three times the limit and tested positive for cocaine. The prosecution, however, said the killing was a ruthless murder committed by a man known as "El Diablo." The agreed-upon facts show the two men were at the Round House Bar, which sits on the corner of East Avenue and Long Street. Riano was inside when Becarra walked through a door off Long Street. An argument ensued, which had continued outside the bar. The prosecution said Riano fired a shot into the ground and eventually walked away from the argument, before turning back. More words were exchanged. A bystander tried to separate the men, but Riano extended his arm and shot Becarra in the face. Riano fled back to Mexico via New Jersey around the time he was indicted on the murder charge in February 2005. He left his wife and children behind, and was found working as a police officer in his hometown. He was extradited to the United States with the help of the U.S. Marshals Office and other authorities on Aug. 1. After closing arguments, the jury began deliberations. The jury's verdict was expected to be made after the Journal-News deadline. For the latest information, visit
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Jury reaches verdict in 20-year-old Hamilton murder
Jun. 13—A jury of 12 said Friday afternoon that Antonio Riano, the 63-year-old Mexican national indicted in a December 2004 murder, was guilty of murder when he shot and killed Benjamin Becarra. The verdict came back less than two hours after being sent to deliberate. Riano faces an 18 years to life sentence on the charge of murder, which includes a three-year gun specification. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14. Before Friday morning's closing arguments, Riano's defense team argued for Butler County Judge Michael Oster to allow the jury to consider voluntary manslaughter in addition to murder. Oster ruled, however, there was insufficient evidence in a video that showed the defendant shoot the 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra on Long Street, outside the Round House Bar in December 2004. The defense objected to that ruling. Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress told the jury during closing arguments that the victim was "executed" less than an hour after Riano purchased ammunition for the firearm used in Becarra's killing. A minute before Becarra was shot, he told his cousin, "he's got a gun, he's going to kill me," Burress said, quoting the witness. "Talk about foreshadowing," Burress told the jury. "A human being was shot in the head. He was shot in cold blood by this defendant." Defense attorney Kara Blackney said they've never denied that her client shot Becarra, but it was because the younger man terrorized him. "He was not there to show up for a fight," Blackney said. Riano as trying to end the terrorism allegedly led by Becarra. She said the police never helped him, and decided to face Becarra. Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hon, who is part of the prosecution team, said Blackney was right, that Riano wasn't looking for a fight, but rather to carry out "vigilante justice." Hon said the people around shown in the video are scared of Riano, using his "El Diablo" nickname multiple times. "They outnumbered him," Hon said. "If they are terrorizing him, why not jump him, beat the crap out of him. It's because he's 'El Diablo.' They're scared of him." On Dec. 19, 2004, Riano, then 42 years old, shot Becarra in the head with a .38 Smith & Wesson following an argument on Long Street. The defense said it was self-defense, claiming he and his family were terrorized by Becarra, who at the time of the shooting had a blood-alcohol level three times the limit and tested positive for cocaine. The prosecution, however, said the killing was a ruthless murder committed by a man known as "El Diablo." The agreed-upon facts show the two men were at the Round House Bar, which sits on the corner of East Avenue and Long Street. Riano was inside when Becarra walked through a door off Long Street. An argument ensued, which had continued outside the bar. The prosecution said Riano fired a shot into the ground and eventually walked away from the argument, before turning back. More words were exchanged. A bystander tried to separate the men, but Riano extended his arm and shot Becarra in the face. Riano fled back to Mexico via New Jersey around the time he was indicted on the murder charge in February 2005. He left his wife and children behind, and was found working as a police officer in his hometown. He was extradited to the United States with the help of the U.S. Marshals Office and other authorities on Aug. 1. After closing arguments, the jury began deliberations. The jury's verdict was expected to be made after the Journal-News deadline. For the latest information, visit
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Did Mexican cop kill 25-year-old to 'protect his family' or was it 'revenge'? Jury decides
A Mexican police officer was found guilty of murder in the December 2004 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra outside a bar in Hamilton. Antonio Riano, 63, was convicted June 13 at the end of a four-day trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court. The jury deliberated for under an hour before returning the guilty verdict. Riano was indicted on a single count of murder in February 2005, but he fled to Mexico, putting the case on a long pause. It was revived after his 2024 arrest and extradition back to the U.S. Prosecutors described the shooting as a 'revenge killing,' saying Riano purposefully put a .38-caliber revolver to Becerra's head and pulled the trigger, killing him. He bought ammunition from a local Walmart less than an hour earlier. The shooting stemmed from a dispute between Riano and Becerra. Prosecutors said Riano went to a bar on East Avenue, where Becerra was known to spend his time, to kill the other man. Riano was in the country illegally at the time. 'He (Becerra) was shot to death in cold blood,' Butler County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress said. Riano's attorneys have argued the shooting was in self-defense and that he had no intentions of killing Becerra when he went to the bar that day. During a roughly 90-minute interview after his extradition, Riano told police he went to confront a group after getting word that his younger brother had been assaulted, according to a transcript displayed in court. Kara Blackney, one of Riano's attorneys, said in court that Riano was 'trying to protect his family' by confronting Becerra. She added that Riano's house had been broken into and that Riano's family was subjected to 'constant bullying' by Becerra and others. 'Antonio's family had been terrorized,' Blackney said. Surveillance video played in court showed Riano pull out a revolver and open fire on Becerra. Prosecutors said Riano had earlier fired a warning shot. However, Blackney said that Riano told police he was shot at first. The video also showed Becerra leaning into the window of a passing car just a minute before he was shot. Burress said that Becerra told the occupants of the car, 'He's got a gun, he's going to kill me.' A third man tried to intervene in the dispute, putting himself between Riano and Becerra, but Riano stepped around the man to shoot Becerra at close range, the video shows. Burress said that Riano "executed Benjamin Becerra on the sidewalk." Judge Michael Oster Jr., who presided over the trial, found there was insufficient evidence to instruct the jury on considering a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. In arguing for the judge to include that instruction, Riano's lawyers pointed to a step Becerra made toward Riano just before the shooting. 'A step by itself is not threatening in any way,' Oster said. He added that it's unknown what the two men were saying to one another before the shooting. After interviewing witnesses, investigators identified Riano as the suspect and learned he was commonly referred to as 'El Diablo,' a former Hamilton police detective wrote in an affidavit. Blackney said that while police and prosecutors have focused on Riano's 'El Diablo' moniker, she noted that the nickname stems from Riano dressing up in a devil outfit for carnival performances in his hometown. 'El Diablo is his nickname, but not because he's a bad guy, not because he's scary,' Blackney said. Police searched a house on East Avenue where Riano had parked his vehicle and found a box of ammunition matching the weapon used in the shooting. When police later searched Riano's home, they learned he used several fake names and had papers to create false documentation to obtain different identifications. A teacher at the elementary school Riano's daughter attended told police they overheard the child's mother say they were moving to New Jersey, where the family had lived previously, investigators said. Investigators contacted New Jersey authorities to help locate Riano; however, they were told that he had just left the country. Police said they interviewed the mother of Riano's daughter, who said she'd fought with Riano the night before the shooting and had left him. She told police that a friend had driven him to Mexico. While investigators mistakenly wrote in an affidavit seeking Riano's extradition that the murder weapon wasn't found until 2006, prosecutors said the gun was recovered 10 days after the shooting. The Butler County Sheriff's Office listed Riano as a wanted fugitive and the case was even profiled on Fox's "America's Most Wanted.' Paul Newtown, lead investigator with the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, previously told The Enquirer that authorities never stopped searching for Riano. However, his trail went cold for the better part of 20 years. Newton said the U.S. Marshals Service became involved early in the investigation. There was an attempt by marshals to arrest Riano in Mexico, but they missed him. 'After he found out the U.S. Marshals were after him, he kind of went underground,' Newton said, adding that investigators lost track of Riano until the beginning of 2024. Newton eventually stumbled upon Riano's Facebook account, which included a video of him. That's also when investigators learned he was working as a police officer. He was later arrested by Mexican authorities and brought back to the U.S. to stand trial. Riano is expected to appear in court again for sentencing on July 14. He faces a possible prison term of 18 years to life. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mexican cop 'El Diablo' convicted in 2004 killing in Butler County
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Trial begins for man accused in 2004 Hamilton murder
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The murder trial has started for man featured on a 2005 episode of 'America's Most Wanted' and found working in Mexico last year. Antonio Riano, 63, was captured in Mexico in 2024 working as a police officer. Riano is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra outside of a Hamilton bar in 2004. A court filing from the attorney of the accused man shows an argument of self-defense could be presented. Online Butler County court records show Riano's trial is scheduled to last until at least Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Murder trial for 'El Diablo' begins with opening statements
Jun. 11—Antonio Riano does not deny he shot Benjamin Becarra outside a Hamilton bar 20 years ago. But his defense attorneys this week will try to prove he did it in self defense. The murder trial for Riano, also known as 'El Diablo,' began today with opening statements after jurors were chosen Tuesday in a Butler County Common Pleas courtroom. The prosecution said the 63-year-old Mexican national said he ruthlessly shot the 25-year-old Becarra in the face on Dec. 19, 2024, with a .38 Smith & Wesson. The defense said Riano was at a breaking point, claiming he and his family were terrorized by the man he shot. Assistant prosecutor Michael Hon led the proceedings Wednesday with his opening statement before a jury of 12 and two alternates. The facts show that the two men were at the Round House Bar on East Avenue and Long Street. Riano was inside when Becarra walked through a door off Long Street. An argument ensued, which had continued outside the bar. Hon said Riano fired a shot into the ground, and Becarra told a cousin to call 911. Then Riano walked away, but turned back, and they continued arguing. A bystander from the bar stood between the two men, but Hon said Riano pulled out his gun, stretched his arm over that bystander, and shot Becarra in the face. Defense attorney Kara Blackney said the shooting was in self-defense, and told the jury her client had "enough." She said Becarra and his friends terrorized him and his family — he had a wife and three children under 10 at the time — and allegedly attacked his younger brother. "Antonio wasn't going to the Round House Bar looking for a fight," Blackney said, adding his "El Diablo" nickname stems from volunteer work for his church as a teenager. "The fight found him." Blackney said the shooting happened mid-afternoon on Dec. 19, 2004, and Becarra said his blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit and tested positive for cocaine. She was also told he was not permitted in that bar, as well as others, due to a fight the day prior. Hon told the jurors that the evidence presented and the witnesses called "may seem out of order to you," mostly in part due to navigating schedules and travel of witnesses, "it will all come together at the end." Butler County authorities worked the case for two decades with federal authorities to bring Riano back to Hamilton on the murder charge. According to Blackney, Riano fled Hamilton, going to New Jersey before heading to Mexico, where he had lived for the past 20 years, including working as a police officer in his hometown. Riano was indicted on the murder charge in February 2005. He was extradited back to the United States with the help of the U.S. Marshals Office and other authorities on Aug. 1.
