The jury in the Jonathan Highley murder case will continue deliberations Friday morning in Santa Maria.
Highley is charged with murder and special firearms allegations for the 2017 shooting death of Tony San Juan, 43, outside Elmer’s bar.
Jury selection began in the case one month ago. Closing arguments wrapped up Thursday and the jury began deliberating late in the afternoon.
Earlier this week, Highley took to the stand and testified that he had been to three different bars before arriving at Elmer’s that night, drinking for about nine hours after a ten-hour shift at the Vandenberg Air Force Base power plant.
Highley and his wife, Mayra Perez, were arrested hours after San Juan was killed.
Perez pleaded no contest to being an accessory to murder after the fact and aiding and abetting. She was sentenced last August to a year in jail with credit for time served.
