The four suspects accused in the home invasion and murder of Jesus D. Valle, 72, on July 10 each have an arrest record, according to documents filed by the Office of the Attorney General.
Benny Joshua Nauta, charged with murder as a first-degree felony, has an arrest record dating to 2009, four convictions and one pending drug case stemming from a traffic stop July 11 — one day after the fatal home invasion at Valle's residence.
Records show Nauta was convicted in a 2021 aggravated assault case and two separate 2021 cases involving drug possession and illegal possession of a firearm without a firearms ID.
Nauta was held on $1 million cash bail.
Justin Anthony Santos, identified as a conspirator in the home invasion, also has a history of arrests, though not as extensive as Nauta's. Santos' arrests are tied to a 2020 third-degree robbery case and two separate 2024 cases related to drug possession and illegal delivery, dispensing or manufacturing of a controlled substance.
According to his criminal history background report, Santos had at least one bench warrant issued in the 2024 drug possession case, though no pending trial cases or convictions were noted. Santos was held on $250,000 cash bail.
The third suspect, Chen Clapatura, has also had a run-in with authorities related to a 2025 drug possession charge. He was held on $250,000 cash bail.
His brother Russell Clapatura, identified as the getaway driver, has also been previously arrested on drug possession allegations, though no convictions or pretrial cases are on record. He was held on $100,000 cash bail.
Aside from Nauta, who has been implicated as the primary actor in the case, Santos and the Clapatura brothers have each been charged with complicity in the home invasion, burglary, theft and murder of Valle.