| For Immediate Release Case # 08CF1465
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN SENTENCED TO 29 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1991 CINCO DE MAYO MURDER OF FAMILY FRIEND BY SHOOTING HIM IN THE FACE
SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 29 years to life in state prison for murdering a family friend on Cinco de Mayo in 1991 by shooting him in the face. Jesus Guillermo Batiz Rosales, 71, Santa Ana, was convicted Oct. 22, 2009, of one felony count of murder and the sentencing enhancement allegation for the personal use of a firearm was found true.
On May 5, 1991, Rosales drove to the victim’s house located on South Franklin Street. Rosales was a friend of 23-year-old Gonzalo Mendoza’s father and uncle, who also lived at the residence. Rosales got into an argument with Mendoza and threw a punch at the victim. The defendant used a 9 mm handgun to fire one shot at the victim, hitting the victim’s chin, killing him. Rosales drove away from the scene and fled the country, leaving a job he had held for five years. The defendant later returned to California and moved back into the home where he had lived at the time of the crime.
The Santa Ana Police Cold Case Unit began re-investigating the case in 2008 and linked the defendant through investigation and ballistics testing. The case was filed May 14, 2008.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Murray of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.
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