New details emerge from San Jose kidnapping case

A sentence is due next month for a woman who prosecutors ruled was the mastermind of a kidnapping in San Jose last April.

Yesenia Ramirez and her accomplice said they did not dispute their charges of kidnapping.

Ramirez faces up to 14 years in prison. But on Wednesday, her lawyer filed new court documents to try to cut or even eliminate her time behind bars by portraying the kidnapping suspect as the victim.

The images were compelling and compromising as the video showed Jose Portillo carrying a covered baby carrier with a three-month-old boy inside. The baby is named Baby Brandon to protect his identity.

The man takes the child and gets into the car. He was later seen returning with what appeared to be an empty stroller.

After a highly publicized search for Baby, Brandon was discovered and Portillo, along with Ramirez, were arrested and charged with eight counts of kidnapping and conspiracy.

Ramirez turned out to be a friend of the child’s family and actually took Brandon and his grandmother shopping so Portillo could pick up the child while the women unloaded groceries.

Text messages revealed that Ramirez had planned several previous attempts to kidnap Brandon.

As the date of sentencing approaches, Ramirez’s attorney today filed paperwork that depicts a graphic history of abuse against Ramirez. Cody Sulphen says that due to her request to no longer compete, Ramirez never had a full trial, so her psychological history was never revealed.

“Our job is to present more why!” ‘Why?’ What was going on in her life at that time? What were her motives?” Salfen said.

The sentencing summary, filed on Wednesday, included page after page of Ramirez’s alleged history, including living in poverty in El Salvador, multiple instances of abuse, mostly by her stepfather, that led to hospitalization and psychiatric treatment, followed by rape and then domestic violence.

“The California legislature has recognized that “People who commit crimes often become victims of crime. It is indeed a vicious cycle that is the reality of our criminal justice system where the “prey” often becomes the “Predator”.

Salfen added that the Ramirez family, including her ex-husband and Baby Brandon’s family, had relationships that are yet to be explored.

Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen claims that due to the egregious nature of the crime, which includes multiple kidnapping plans, his office recommends Ramirez 13 years and 4 months in prison.

A sentence is due next month for a woman who prosecutors ruled was the mastermind of a kidnapping in San Jose last April. Raj Mathai is talking to Robert Handa about this case.