Arraignment continued

By Allen D. Payton

Antioch resident, and former one-time candidate for mayor, Michael Anthony Leon faces more than 25 years to life in state prison for the murder of his wife, Brenda Leon, in 2015.

As previously reported, 67-year-old Michael Leon was taken into custody from his Antioch residence on January 22nd by the DA’s Office Bureau of Investigations after an investigation by the District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit.

According to the charging document signed on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, Deputy District Attorney Satish Jallepalli on behalf of District Attorney Diana Becton, “states, on information and belief, that Michael Anthony Leon, Defendant, did commit a Felony, a violation of PC187(a), Murder, committed as follows:

“On or about September 28, 2015, in the County of Contra Costa, State of California, the crime of Murder in violation of PC187(a), a Felony, was committed in that MICHAEL ANTHONY LEON did unlawfully, and with malice aforethought murder Brenda Joyce Leon, a human being.

“The charges include the following ENHANCEMENT 1:

“PC12022.53(d): Special Allegation-Personal And Intentional Discharge Of A Firearm, Great Bodily Injury.

“It is further alleged as to Count 1 that said defendant, MICHAEL ANTHONY LEON  personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, a handgun, which caused great bodily injury and death to Brenda Joyce Leon within the meaning of Penal Code Section 12022.53(d) also causing the above offense to become a serious felony pursuant to Penal Code section 1192.7(c)(8) and a violent felony within the meaning of Penal Code section 667.5(c)(8).”

According to Contra Costa DA’s Office PIO, Ted Asregadoo, Leon’s “arraignment was continued to Feb. 10, 2026, at 1:30 pm in Martinez (Judge Goldstein; Department 6).”

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 190-pound Leon is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $1 million bail.

the attachments to this post:

Michael Anthony Leon CCDA logo & Brenda Joyce Leon 2026 charges

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2026 at 5:02 pm and is filed under District Attorney, News, Police & Crime. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.