| For Immediate Release Case # 09ZF0052 and 09ZF0063
June 2, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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FOUR GANG MEMBERS INDICTED FOR MURDERING MAN AND SHOOTING TWO OTHERS AT BACKYARD HOUSE PARTY IN 2000
SANTA ANA – Four gang member defendants have been indicted on charges of murdering one man and shooting two other victims at a Garden Grove house party in 2000. Two additional co-defendants were previously indicted in this case.
The indictments against the six defendants include one felony count of special circumstances murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, two felony counts of attempted murder, one felony count of street terrorism, and sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and the vicarious discharge of a firearm causing death as a gang member. If convicted on all counts, each of the six defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Defendants
The four defendants indicted May 29, 2009, include Daran Gudehus, 34, Soquel, Santa Cruz County, arrested March 5, 2009, Daniel Cervantes, 24, Buena Park, arrested March 17, 2009, Gilbert Montijo, 27, formerly of Anaheim, in custody on an unrelated case at the time of the indictment, and Johnny Losoya, 31, who is at large and has a warrant for his arrest in this case.
Two additional defendants were indicted Jan. 29, 2009, including Steve Morales, 26, Orange, arrested Feb. 5, 2009, and Eddie Ayache, 26, Anaheim, in custody on an unrelated gun case at the time of the indictment. Ayache, who was arrested Jan. 9, 2009, for an unrelated case in Cypress, is also charged with one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, an additional felony count of street terrorism, and one misdemeanor count of resisting and obstructing an officer.
The defendants are being held without bail. Ayache and Morales are scheduled for jury trial on Sept. 14, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Gudehus and Cervantes are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Montijo is currently in state prison and will be brought to Orange County to face charges.
Circumstances of the Case
At approximately 11:00 pm. on Nov. 18, 2000, the defendants went to a backyard flyer birthday party at a house located at 8127 Stanford Avenue in Garden Grove. The defendants were not closely associated with anyone at the party. Shortly after arriving, the defendants are accused of starting a verbal argument with several people affiliated with other gangs at the party after yelling out the name of their Anaheim criminal street gang and displaying gang hand signs. The argument escalated to a physical fight.
Victim Michael Olvera, 19, attempted to break up the fight and then resumed dancing. While Olvera was dancing, the defendants are accused of knocking him to the ground and punching and kicking him in the head. They are accused of shooting and murdering Olvera at close range as he lay on the ground. The victim was shot one time in the leg and three times in the back.