Attorney Jared Thompson of Humphrey & Thompson is defending Rhys Casterline, the driver in the Bakersfield ‘Princess Barbie’ fatal shooting case. Thanks to his defense counsel, the first-degree murder and special circumstance murder charges against Casterline have already been dismissed after presenting preliminary arguments before Judge John Oglesby. The prosecution still intends to charge Casterline with murder on the theory of aiding and abetting, but Attorney Thompson is arguing that his client should be completely discharged because he was completely unwitting in the shooting.
The complicated case, which involves Ashley ‘Princess Barbie’ Ruiz, has made national headlines, including feature pieces on NBC News KGET, Yahoo! News, and others. (The NBC article features mention of and quotes from Attorney Thompson several times.)
Casterline Drove but Knew No Plans of Violence
According to multiple reports, including statements from the defendants, Ruiz and Gabriel Valle got into an altercation with Robert Overdevest at the Root Beer King in Bakersfield on July 18, 2024. Not knowing of that conflict, Casterline agreed to pick up Ruiz and Valle in his Toyota Camry. When he arrived, he sensed something was off, picked up his passengers, and backed up into a spot so he could then turn the car around and leave the parking lot. Ruiz told him to follow Overdevest’s truck, but he didn’t know why. While he was backing up, Ruiz opened the door and fired two rounds into the truck, striking Overdevest, according to an admission made by Ruiz to detectives.
Casterline’s words don’t need to be taken on trust alone. Video surveillance from the McDonald’s where he was when he received the call to pick up Ruiz and Valle shows that he was minding his business and didn’t know about the altercation at the Root Beer King. “[H]is actions on the surveillance are consistent to what he says occurred,” Attorney Thompson explained to the court.
Next Steps for Casterline’s Defense
The next court date for Casterline, Ruiz, and Valle is set for June 30th, which will be their official arraignment. Although all have pleaded not guilty to the preliminary charges. ‘Princess Barbie’ has maintained that she did not intend to strike Overdevest, and that she only meant to scare him. The charges that she faces could potentially affect the charges brought against Casterline.
Attorney Thompson has already managed to have the first-degree murder and special circumstance murder charges dismissed. No matter what charges are brought forth in the arraignment, he will be ready to defend his client to the full extent of his abilities.
You can learn more about this developing case by clicking here to visit the full NBC article, which features Attorney Thompson. You should also visit our blog frequently, where we’ll post any important updates to this case. If you need to talk to an expert criminal defense attorney in Bakersfield about a case of your own, call (661) 760-7678 to schedule a consultation with our team
