Suspect in 2021 murder case returns to court

The suspect in a 2021 murder returned to court this week, and it was suggested that a resolution to the case may be on the horizon. Reporter Adeline J. Wells has an update.

On Tuesday (08/18) morning, Miguel Ibarra returned to court for a Disposition and Reset Hearing before Judge Sarah Oliver. Ibarra is the suspect in the 2021 murder of Jervon Winston of Twentynine Palms. 

On October 5, 2021, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies issued a missing persons report for Winston. Family members reported he had last been seen on the evening of September 26 at his Twentynine Palms home. Winston did not own a vehicle and was reported missing either on foot or in another’s vehicle. Due to the suspicious nature of Winston’s disappearance, the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail assumed the investigation on October 8; detectives identified a crime scene at a Twentynine Palms residence, and on October 9 located Winston’s remains in a remote location in Wonder Valley.

Detectives identified Michael Isaacs and Damien Wilkerson as accessories to Winston’s murder. Isaacs was taken into custody in Joshua Tree and pleaded guilty on November 16, 2021. Wilkerson was located in Columbia, Missouri, extradited to San Bernardino County, and pleaded guilty on February 9, 2022. Both Isaacs and Wilkerson have since been released after completing their prison sentences. 

Through their investigation, detectives identified Miguel Ibarra as the suspect in Winston’s murder; he was taken into custody at a residence in Coachella on March 6, 2022. Ibarra pleaded “Not Guilty” to the charge of murder with four enhancements related to using a firearm and having prior felony convictions.

At Tuesday’s hearing, District Attorney Jason Gueltzow represented the prosecution, and Attorney Antonio Bestard represented the Conflict Panel for Ibarra, who was in custody. A Conflict Panel is a group of private attorneys the judge assigns to a criminal case when there is a conflict of interest between the defendant and the public defender’s office. As discussed, the attorneys have been working towards a resolution on the case, for which final approvals are still needed. Judge Oliver scheduled a Disposition and Reset Hearing for September 16; she specified that if there is going to be a plea, she would like it drafted and ready to be heard that day in court.

Miguel Ibarra is charged with murder, with enhancements related to using a firearm and having prior felony convictions. He is currently held at the West Valley Detention Center on $2,000,000 bail.