| For Immediate Release Case # 08ZF0020 & 09CF2225
October 23, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
JUVENILE GANG MEMBER CONVICTED AS ADULT SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON 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 50 years to life in state prison for murdering two rivals and leaving a third in a coma after an execution-style gang shooting. Marco Antonio Perez, 16, 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. The People advocated for the maximum sentence of 143 years to life in state prison.
Co-defendant Norberto Hernandez, 24, was found guilty by a jury March 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, 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. 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, 21, 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.
Three additional co-defendants were juveniles at the time of the crimes and are being prosecuted as adults. Juan Roldan, 19, and Oiram Roman Ayala, 20, both face the same charges as Hernandez and are scheduled to face trial Jan. 25, 2010, in Department C-45, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Prospero Guadarrama, 19, faces the same charges as Perez and is scheduled to face jury trial March 1, 2010, in Department C-30.
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.