Ricardo Medina, Jr.

Ricardo Medina Jr. (often referred to as Rick Medina, born January 24, 1979) is an American former actor. He is best known for his role as Cole Evans, the Red Wild Force Ranger on the TV series Power Rangers Wild Force, and later as Deker, the half-human cursed Nighlok in Power Rangers Samurai.

Early life

Ricardo Medina Jr. was born in Kern County, California, and raised in Downey, California. He is of Puerto Rican descent.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2002 Power Rangers Wild Force Cole Evans / Red Wild Force Ranger 40 episodes 2003 ER Aidan Fenwick Episode: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" 2004 CSI: Miami Lance Episode: "Money for Nothing" 2005 Kept Contestant (Eliminated 5th) 2005 Confessions of a Pit Fighter David Castillo 2007 Witchcraft Jack Bell / Drion 2008 Parasomnia Officer 2011–2012 Power Rangers Samurai / Power Rangers Super Samurai Deker 24 episodes 2012 Bad Blood Mark

Killing of Joshua Sutter and conviction On February 1, 2015, Medina was arrested after he stabbed to death his 38-year-old roommate, Joshua Sutter, on January 31. Sutter had been stabbed in the abdomen with a medieval "Conan the Barbarian" sword at a home in Green Valley, west of Palmdale, California. Medina called emergency services, and Sutter was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital. Medina was initially held on $1,000,000 bail, but no charges were filed against him from the district attorney due to requests on further investigation so he was released on February 3, 2015. Medina claimed that he stabbed Sutter in self-defense after Sutter forced open the door of Medina's bedroom, into which Medina and his girlfriend had retreated after an argument between Medina and Sutter. Medina had lived in the home in Green Valley for approximately two months.

On January 14, 2016, he was arrested again on murder charges in connection with Sutter's death. At that time, Medina faced a possible sentence of life imprisonment with a chance of parole after 26 years with prosecutors planning to ask that Medina be held on $1,000,000 bail. On March 16, 2017, Medina pled guilty to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter. On March 30, 2017, Medina was sentenced to the maximum 6 years in prison. As of 2020, Medina Jr. has been released from prison as revealed in an interview with Wild Force co-star Jack Guzman.