Robbery plot led to deaths, stabbing

A 2021 plot to rob a man of drugs and money turned into a flood of violence that left two men dead and another stabbed in a jailhouse attack.

One man who planned to rob Isaiah Castillo – the 20-year-old shot on Diana Avenue on April 14, 2021 – was sentenced to prison earlier this month, despite the fact he wasn’t ultimately part of Castillo’s death.

Taylor Brian Pasco, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an indictable offense and possession of a firearm – charges that were reduced from his original charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The Stoney Creek man planned with Nebiyu Myers, 19, to rob Castillo of drugs and shoot him in the legs but text messages showed the offense occurred without him, ending with Castillo dead and, three days later, a retribution shooting death of Myers, on Alfred Street, as well.

Police later concluded Myers had shot Castillo.

The violence didn’t end there. After his arrest, Pasco was attacked in jail.

“He was severely injured,” said his defense lawyer Jaime Stephenson.

“He was stabbed in the face, just above the throat. This attack was orchestrated and facilitated by individuals aware of this case and Mr. Pasco’s charges pertaining to the case.”

The deaths of Castillo and Myers were Brantford’s first and second homicides of 2021.

In investigating the Castillo shooting, police arrested a 17-year-old man and, several weeks later, Pasco, after text messages were discovered where he and Myers were planning the robbery of Castillo’s drugs and money.

The 17-year-old was charged with first-degree murder.

At Pasco’s sentencing hearing before Superior Court Justice Harrison Arrell, his step-sister spoke of the broken hearts of Castillo’s family as they experienced the “worst day of their lives” and how Castillo’s mother couldn’t even attend his funeral from Buffalo as the pandemic had closed the border.

“No one should have to watch a child being buried through a video,” said Tiffany Stein.

“Isaiah was not perfect but was generous, kind, funny, thoughtful and always the light in the room.”

Castillo’s mother, Tracy Stein, described her son as the little boy who loved pizza but hated all other foods with cheese; who loved camping and sleepovers but was afraid of dogs.

“He was so very kind. I don’t know why anyone would want to take Isaiah from us.”

Acting Brant Crown attorney Brett Moodie said while Pasco “didn’t pull the trigger” on Castillo, the Glock-style handgun found in his dresser, despite two court orders prohibiting him from having such a weapon, were serious red flags.

“There were ten rounds of ammunition found beside the Glock in the dresser drawer and the text messages showed he was or wanted to be involved in this criminal activity,” Moodie said.

The Crown and defense lawyer Jaime Stephenson reached a deal that reduced an initial sentence of 8.5 years by a year due to the extreme circumstances Pasco has faced in jail. Aside from being stabbed, he faced numerous pandemic lock-downs and indignities and was seriously ill with COVID-19.

Pasco asked to address the four members of the Castillo family who traveled to Brantford for the sentencing, saying he was ashamed.

“I know there’s nothing I could ever say or do to heal the pain and the hole that’s burned in your hearts. I know because I’ve been through losses like this myself,” Pasco said.

“I did not play a part in this but I understand it’s my face, my name that will be the one you guys associate with your loss forever. I did not ever want this to happen.”

Justice Arrell accepted Pasco didn’t kill Castillo, wasn’t present at the murder and didn’t even know about it until the following day, but said he was willing to attack the man with a prohibited weapon.

“He has a conviction for possession of a prohibited firearm in 2015 and got 22 months less time served,” said Arrell. “In 2017 he was convicted of aggravated assault and robbery with disguise and got three years less time served.

“Clearly he has difficulty learning from his past behavior.”

With a sentence on the two charges reduced to 7.5 years, Arrell gave Pasco credit for already serving about 3.3 years, leaving him 4.2 years to serve.

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