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News Blog

XL Grindhouse Co-Owner Sentenced to Jail Time and Probation in Homeless Beating Case

A Salinas restaurant owner who lied to police to protect his brother in an attempted murder case was sentenced to jail and probation today.

James DeLeon, 32, was sentenced to 180 days in the Monterey County Jail, but will serve 60, due to jail credits. He was also sentenced to three years probation, and must attend a one day assault and behavior class, said his attorney Juliet Peck.

James DeLeon and his brother Robert both faced attempted murder and assault charges for an October 2012 beating outside their Oldtown Salinas restaurant that left a homeless man in a coma. But in late December James DeLeon pleaded no contest to a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact. Since there was no evidence that he was involved in the beating outside XL Grindhouse, the more serious attempted murder charges were dropped.

When James DeLeon was questioned by police, he told them nothing happened that night, according to Weekly files.

In court today the defendant appeared in a black suit, and stood silently as his attorney defended him.

“It is critical that we all remember that the only crime James DeLeon committed was to lie to protect his brother,” said Peck. “He takes complete responsibility for that, he recognizes it.”

Judge Julie Culver acknowledged that the court has received many letters of recommendation testifying to James DeLeon’s good character.

However, James DeLeon’s action “makes us, as a community weaker,” she said, when delivering her sentence.

“This is a truly abhorrent situation and one in which we should all be coming forward instead of trying to lead the police astray,” she said.

As the judge read the defendant’s probation terms, the victim and his family walked out of the courtroom.

Before Culver delivered her sentence, she asked James DeLeon if he had anything to say.

“Nothing,” he said.

Robert DeLeon still faces the attempted murder charges, along with a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon—a bat the victim says was used to beat him. Robert DeLeon has pleaded not guilty and a trial has been set for March.