Man pleads guilty in kidnapping case

Friday, Oct. 24, 1997 | 9:12 a.m.

Elber Castillo, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday to his role in the July 30 carjacking before Washoe District Judge Brent Adams. Sentencing was scheduled Dec. 16.

But a codefendant, Caesar Perez, 22, backed out of a plea bargain at the last minute and will stand trial in March.

A third man, Ubaldo Gomez, 23, pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced on Wednesday to two consecutive life prison terms with the chance of parole.

Deputy Russell Pedersen and his girlfriend, Diana Lent, were leaving a Denny's restaurant around 5:40 a.m. when they were confronted at gunpoint and forced into their vehicle by three men.

They were driven to Carson City, where Pedersen jumped out at a red light.

The three men drove to a mobile home park and abandoned the vehicle, leaving Lent behind. She was unharmed.

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