By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
The second person charged in the 2008 murder of an El Dorado County man is to be sentenced Monday.
Jaime Ramos (photo bottom left), 22, pleaded guilty in July 2009 to first-degree murder of Garden Valley resident Ron Presba, but sentencing was delayed pending his testimony in the trial of his co-defendant, Presba's wife.
Patricia Ann Presba (photo bottom right), 49, pleaded guilty to first degree murder in January. Last week, El Dorado Superior Court Judge James R. Wagoner sentenced her to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of her husband and life with possibility of parole for the attempted murder of Ramos. She also received a 10-year enhancement for use of a firearm.
According to prosecutors, Presba and Ramos were lovers.
Firefighters battling a wildland fire along Highway 193 near Kelsey found Ron Presba's body June 25, 2008, inside a charred sport-utility vehicle in a ravine.
A month later, Patricia Presba vanished from the couple's Garden Valley home.
A friend found the front door of the home open and covered in blood. More blood later was discovered inside the house, authorities said.
A day after Patricia Presba was reported missing, a Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement officer was looking for stolen vehicles at a Salt Lake City motel and found a vehicle sought in connection with Patricia Presba's disappearance.
Investigators found her and Ramos inside the motel. When the two were arrested, Ramos had three gunshot wounds and Patricia Presba had stab wounds to her arms. Both were later extradited to El Dorado County.
Ramos is scheduled for sentencing at 10 a.m. Monday in El Dorado Superior Court in Placerville.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 773-6866.
Previous coverage:
Man pleads guilty in killing, will testify against victim's wife - Aug. 1, 2009.


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