A Kern County man faces more than a century behind bars after being convicted of murdering a man at point-blank range in May 2022.
According to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, a jury found Michael Castillo guilty on October 17, 2025, of first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest. The jury also found firearm enhancements to be true.
On October 27, 2025, the court ruled that Castillo had two prior strikes and confirmed three aggravating factors — that he posed a danger to society, had numerous prior convictions, and had previously served time in prison…