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personpersonWaldo Mesa NunezWaldo Mesa NunezRental-car employee who authenticated the June 2014 rental agreements and testified for the State in both the 2019 joint trial and the 2022 retrial.← All People
WitnessComfort Rent a Car

Waldo Mesa Nunez

Courtroom still of Waldo Mesa Nunez.

Rental-car employee who authenticated the June 2014 rental agreements and testified for the State in both the 2019 joint trial and the 2022 retrial.

AppearedGarcia–MagbanuaMagbanua Retrial
264 lines·6 proceedings·1 mention·2 trials

About

Waldo Mesa Nunez, a former Comfort Rent A Car sales representative, testified as a records witness about rental documents tied to Sigfredo Garcia. He authenticated the documents through his handwriting and the company’s contract format and explained that they recorded a June 2, 2014 rental of a silver Nissan Altima, followed by an exchange for a Hyundai Sonata the next day. The 2019 testimony also identified a $500 cash deposit and indicated that the exchange did not change the due date and time. At the 2022 retrial, Nunez again authenticated the records while limiting his knowledge to what the documents showed: he did not independently remember the renter’s identifying details or arrival. He further distinguished a vehicle due time from the time entered when he began writing the first contract.

Trial Record (6)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution

On Day 4, Waldo Mesa Nunez authenticated Comfort Rent A Car records tied to Sigfredo Garcia and described rentals involving a Nissan Altima, a Hyundai Sonata, and a vehicle exchange.

Day 4

DirectWaldo Mesa Nunez - DirectWaldo Mesa NunezAnna Norris5highlights66lines spoken

Summary

A former rental-car sales representative authenticated records showing two vehicles rented to Sigfredo Garcia on consecutive days.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightNunez identified State's Exhibit 89 as a rental agreement for Sigfredo Garcia involving a silver Nissan Altima and a $500 cash deposit, and said it was due June 5, 2014.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“If it says it’s at 8:50, it's because the person rented the vehicle at 8:50. It was based on a 24-hour period.”— Waldo Mesa NunezNunez explained how the rental agreement's return time was calculated.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
rulingAfter an objection, the court allowed questioning about whether the two contracts indicated that the original rental vehicle was exchanged for another vehicle the following day; Nunez answered yes.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Because we always kept information of whoever was renting the vehicle.”— Waldo Mesa NunezNunez described Comfort Rent A Car's recordkeeping practice for renters.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights
CrossWaldo Mesa Nunez - CrossWaldo Mesa NunezSaam Zangeneh3highlights34lines spoken

Summary

Cross-examination linked a traffic citation to the rental vehicle's license plate, while the witness said he could not say who used the car after rental.

Highlights (3)

Quote“I wouldn't know. I rented a car to the person that's renting the car. what they do with the car after that, it's up to them.”— Waldo Mesa NunezThe witness declined to offer an opinion about whether another person used a rental vehicle after it left the business.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by prosecution

On Day 3, Waldo Mesa Nunez authenticated Comfort Rent a Car records documenting a June 2014 Nissan Altima rental and its exchange for a Hyundai Sonata. His testimony also clarified the limits of his independent recollection and what the recorded times established.

Day 2

Day 3

DirectWaldo Mesa Nunez - DirectWaldo Mesa NunezSarah Kathryn Dugan2highlights85lines spoken

Summary

Nunez authenticated rental records listing Sigfredo Garcia as the renter of a Nissan Altima and recording its exchange for a Hyundai Sonata the next day.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightNunez read the records as listing Sigfredo Garcia as the renter of a silver Nissan Altima on June 2, 2014, followed by an exchange the next day for a Hyundai Sonata.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Because usually that's when I started writing the contract -- that's when you put the time.”— Waldo Mesa NunezExplained the witness's basis for reading the rental time from the contract.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossWaldo Mesa Nunez - CrossWaldo Mesa NunezTara Kawass2highlights69lines spoken

Summary

Nunez said he relied on rental records rather than independent memory and could not determine the second vehicle exchange time from the record reviewed.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightNunez acknowledged that he could not independently recall who rented the vehicle, what the person wore, or how the person arrived, and that he relied on business documents for information about the transaction.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“I can't say by looking at that. I just put there the time that the vehicle is due back, so...”— Waldo Mesa NunezThe witness distinguished the recorded due time from the time the renter came in for the second vehicle.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
RedirectWaldo Mesa Nunez - RedirectWaldo Mesa NunezSarah Kathryn Dugan2highlights9lines spoken

Summary

Nunez clarified that the first contract recorded its creation time, while the second did not establish the vehicle-exchange time.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightNunez clarified that the 8:50 p.m. time on the first rental contract was recorded when he began writing the contract, while the second contract did not establish the time of the vehicle exchange.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶