| For Immediate Release Case # 08ZF0020, 09CF2225
February 18, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR MURDERING TWO RIVALS
IN EXECUTION-STYLE GANG SHOOTING
*A third victim was rendered in a coma and underwent several surgeries to survive
SANTA ANA – A juvenile gang member prosecuted as an adult was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for murdering two rivals and leaving a third in a coma after an execution-style gang shooting. Juan Roldan, 21, was convicted by a jury Sept. 30, 2010, of two felony counts of special circumstances murder for committing multiple murders for the benefit of a criminal street gang, one felony count of attempted murder, two felony counts of street terrorism, one felony count of assault with a firearm, and sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and the vicarious discharge of a firearm as a gang member causing death and bodily injury.
Co-defendant Marco Antonio Perez, 18, was found guilty by a jury June 25, 2009, of two felony counts of special circumstances murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of street terrorism, and sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and the vicarious discharge of a firearm as a gang member causing death and bodily injury. He was sentenced Oct. 23, 2009, to 50 years to life in state prison.
Co-defendant Norberto Hernandez, 26, was found guilty by a jury March 26, 2009, of the same charges as Roldan. He was sentenced June 5, 2009, to two life sentences in state prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 93 years to life.
Co-defendant Angel Garcia, 23, was convicted by a jury Jan. 26, 2009, of two felony counts of special circumstances murder for committing multiple murders for the benefit of a criminal street gang, one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of street terrorism, and sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and the vicarious discharge of a firearm as a gang member causing death and bodily injury. He was sentenced May 29, 2009, to two life sentences in state prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 50 years to life.
Two additional co-defendants were juveniles at the time of the crimes and prosecuted as adults. Oiram Roman Ayala, 21, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 30, 2010, of the same charges as Roldan and was sentenced Oct. 22, 2010, to life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Prospero Guadarrama, 20, faces the same charges as Perez and is scheduled to face jury trial May 6, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The defendants are members of a Hispanic Santa Ana criminal street gang. On Dec. 15, 2006, Hernandez and two fellow gang members, walked into a rival gang neighborhood with a firearm in search of rival gang members. The defendant and his fellow gang members found a group of rivals and the two gangs began shooting at each other. Victim Gumaro Rojas, then-47 years old, was nearby selling corn on the cob from his street vendor cart and was caught in the crossfire. Rojas, an innocent civilian, was shot in the back. The bullet penetrated his spinal cord and the victim remains paralyzed from the waist down. The defendants fled the scene. Roldan committed the murder with Hernandez and Ayala.