Timothy Wynglarz
I did not want to mix company with Mr. Skillman and Mr. Tafoya, and Mr. Tafoya agreed to wait at a near-by liquor store, while I proceeded to Mr. Skillman’s house. After I arrived at the destination, Mr. Skillman was on the phone, and said he was going to be a while before we could talk. I left to inform Mr. Tafoya that it would be a little longer. Mr. Tafoya agreed and requested to be dropped off where he could talk with some landscapers, which were working near Mr. Skillman’s house. After arriving back at Mr. Skillman’s house, I was talking with a person known as ‘Steve’ on the front porch of Mr. Skillman’s house. While talking with Steve… Mr. Tafoya approached both of us, pulled a weapon (gun) and forced Steve and myself into the house. As Mr. Tafoya began waving the gun around I ran up the stairs to escape Mr. Tafoya and warn others that Mr. Tafoya was in the house with a gun. As I ran up the stairs Mr. Douglas Gattenby was sitting on the staircase… and urged on by my warning, was able to escape through the second floor window, as Mr Tafoya fired four (4) shots from his weapon, striking the two victims. Unable to escape, Mr. Tafoya held me at gun point, ordered me to carry a nylon bag, and drive Mr. Tafoya away from the house. Mr. Tafoya’s actions left me in a state of shock, as I complied with Mr. Tafoya’s directions (see more at California Superior Case #93WF0692 Wynglarz vs. People of the State of California).
Defense at Trial: (T. Wynglarz). My position and defense at trial was that I was in fear for my life, completely under “duress”, never planned or encouraged Mr. Tafoya’s, and the action Mr. Tafoya took completely surprised everyone involved in this incident, and could not have been perceived.
I. Tafoya). It was Mr. Tafoya’s position at trial that he shot Mr. Skillman and the man known as Steve (the victims in this case) in an act of self-defense, however; presented no tangible evidence to support his defense. (Post Conviction) I have made several attempts to gain a declaration from co-defendant Tafoya, for clarification of his own admission in committing the acts charged in this case, to no avail. The prosecution’s case in chief was that I (Wynglarz) planned a robbery involving the victims, and acted in consort with Mr. Tafoya to facilitate the robbery, which resulted in the death of two friends.
Procedural History: (California Superior Court Case #93WF0692: I was jointly tried with co-defendant Mr. Tafoya, and I was found guilty of Felony Murder. Mr. Tafoya testified at trial admitting that he shot both victims in self-defense. Mr. Tafoya was found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. Mr. Tafoya is currently on death row, with a team of attorneys working his behalf.
(Post Conviction State Appeal Case #GO18360): Once my Appellate review was denied… I (Wynglarz) petitioned the California Supreme Court Case #S0664396 for review, which was also denied. As a lay person of the law, I then attempted to file a Federal Habeas Petition in the United States District Court Case #SACV-02-0251 GAF (RZ) in compliance with the then newly enacted one year limitations of the Anti Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA), which due to massive locked-downs took 27 months. Once the petition was filed, the Federal Court, without reaching the merits of the petition, or considering a state impediment issue… procedurally time barred the petition. This concluded any further litigation.
In Conclusion: Due to the years of incarceration my funding has been depleted, and I must now rely on the pro-bono services of any such organizations, law school, law firm, investigative services or interested parties who wish to assist in this personal fight for justice and freedom of an innocent man, who has been unfairly sentenced to LWOP… which in California amounts to nothing short of a (De Facto) death sentence. At this point, I have honestly evaluated my case, and would be willing to sign a release of information authorization, thereof, authorizes any attorney, investigator, law student, staff member or other persons to communicate with my previous attorneys, California Department of Corrections, as well as all other persons deemed necessary in evaluating my case factors.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter. Any guidance in this case would be greatly appreciated.
Timothy Wynglarz (J74845)
CSP-LAC A2-216L
PO Box #4430
Lancaster
CA 93539-4430
U.S.A.
Defense at Trial: (T. Wynglarz). My position and defense at trial was that I was in fear for my life, completely under “duress”, never planned or encouraged Mr. Tafoya’s, and the action Mr. Tafoya took completely surprised everyone involved in this incident, and could not have been perceived.
I. Tafoya). It was Mr. Tafoya’s position at trial that he shot Mr. Skillman and the man known as Steve (the victims in this case) in an act of self-defense, however; presented no tangible evidence to support his defense. (Post Conviction) I have made several attempts to gain a declaration from co-defendant Tafoya, for clarification of his own admission in committing the acts charged in this case, to no avail. The prosecution’s case in chief was that I (Wynglarz) planned a robbery involving the victims, and acted in consort with Mr. Tafoya to facilitate the robbery, which resulted in the death of two friends.
Procedural History: (California Superior Court Case #93WF0692: I was jointly tried with co-defendant Mr. Tafoya, and I was found guilty of Felony Murder. Mr. Tafoya testified at trial admitting that he shot both victims in self-defense. Mr. Tafoya was found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. Mr. Tafoya is currently on death row, with a team of attorneys working his behalf.
(Post Conviction State Appeal Case #GO18360): Once my Appellate review was denied… I (Wynglarz) petitioned the California Supreme Court Case #S0664396 for review, which was also denied. As a lay person of the law, I then attempted to file a Federal Habeas Petition in the United States District Court Case #SACV-02-0251 GAF (RZ) in compliance with the then newly enacted one year limitations of the Anti Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA), which due to massive locked-downs took 27 months. Once the petition was filed, the Federal Court, without reaching the merits of the petition, or considering a state impediment issue… procedurally time barred the petition. This concluded any further litigation.
In Conclusion: Due to the years of incarceration my funding has been depleted, and I must now rely on the pro-bono services of any such organizations, law school, law firm, investigative services or interested parties who wish to assist in this personal fight for justice and freedom of an innocent man, who has been unfairly sentenced to LWOP… which in California amounts to nothing short of a (De Facto) death sentence. At this point, I have honestly evaluated my case, and would be willing to sign a release of information authorization, thereof, authorizes any attorney, investigator, law student, staff member or other persons to communicate with my previous attorneys, California Department of Corrections, as well as all other persons deemed necessary in evaluating my case factors.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter. Any guidance in this case would be greatly appreciated.
Timothy Wynglarz (J74845)
CSP-LAC A2-216L
PO Box #4430
Lancaster
CA 93539-4430
U.S.A.
To Interested Legal Organizations & Media.
Introduction: I have been incarcerated within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 1993, from a conviction and sentence in the California Superior Court, Case #93WF0692 (Wynglarz vs People of the State of California). To date, I have currently served 18 years of “disciplinary free” incarceration… and I am currently participating in a Progressive Program Facility (PPF) at CSP-LAC. I arrived as a 32 year old, and with the exception of the current placement/sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP), my criminal history is minor in nature. I am now 50 years old, serving LWOP, and did not intend or participate in the killing of anyone, although; my sentence of LWOP is derived from a conviction under the California’s felony murder rule P.C. 190.2.
Facts and Persons Involved: On May 4th, 1993. I was in the company of co-defendant Mr. Ignacio Tafoya. I went to visit a friend Mr. Gerald Skillman, and discuss some pawn tickets.
Introduction: I have been incarcerated within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 1993, from a conviction and sentence in the California Superior Court, Case #93WF0692 (Wynglarz vs People of the State of California). To date, I have currently served 18 years of “disciplinary free” incarceration… and I am currently participating in a Progressive Program Facility (PPF) at CSP-LAC. I arrived as a 32 year old, and with the exception of the current placement/sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP), my criminal history is minor in nature. I am now 50 years old, serving LWOP, and did not intend or participate in the killing of anyone, although; my sentence of LWOP is derived from a conviction under the California’s felony murder rule P.C. 190.2.
Facts and Persons Involved: On May 4th, 1993. I was in the company of co-defendant Mr. Ignacio Tafoya. I went to visit a friend Mr. Gerald Skillman, and discuss some pawn tickets.