Woman who took part in teen's murder sentenced

MURRIETA - A woman who was at the wheel of a vehicle used in the drive-by killing of a 14-year-old Hemet boy was sentenced today to 15 years in prison.

Maria Luisa Lemus, 29, is the last of three defendants to be convicted in the May 31, 2010, slaying of Ruben Alfaro.

Lemus pleaded guilty in 2012 to voluntary manslaughter with a sentence-enhancing weapon allegation. Her sentencing was repeatedly postponed because she was needed by the prosecution to testify at the trials of her co-defendants, 26-year-old Fernando Becerra and 28-year-old Michael Wayne Delacruz.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Mandio imposed the upper term sentence for the manslaughter count.

Becerra and Delacruz, who are brothers, were convicted in earlier trials. Both were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole -- Becerra in May, and Delacruz in 2013.

According to the District Attorney's Office, a dispute between Becerra and a group of youths and young adults gathered at the Depot Deli on Alessandro Street precipitated the violence that culminated in Ruben's shooting death.

Becerra, a member of the Trece street gang, traded insults with members of the group, several of whom belonged to a rival gang, according to investigators. One of the rivals -- not Ruben -- took a swing at Becerra, who immediately enlisted the support of his older sibling, said Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky.

Delacruz, Becerra, Lemus and three others piled into a Ford Explorer and, with Lemus at the wheel, drove to a residence at 130 Alessandro St., where they suspected the rivals were gathered, according to Strunsky.

He said Delacruz armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and took a position in the rear of the Explorer. When the assailants reached the house around 1 a.m., Ruben and several of his friends were socializing outside, according to testimony from Delacruz's trial.

Lemus stopped the vehicle, and Delacruz flung open the door and fired the shotgun, hitting Ruben in the abdomen, killing him on the spot.

One of Ruben's associates was also armed with a shotgun and fired into the Explorer, striking Delacruz underneath his right arm as the vehicle sped away.

Based on witnesses' statements and other evidence collected at the scene, the defendants were arrested by Hemet police less than a week later.

Trial Begins for Man Accused in Teen's Murder

MURRIETA - Jury selection got underway today for the trial of a man accused of instigating and taking part in a drive-by shooting that left a 14-year-old Hemet boy dead.

Fernando Becerra, 26, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in the May 31, 2010, slaying of Ruben Alfaro.

Becerra is charged with first-degree murder, plus special circumstance allegations of firing a gun from a moving vehicle and committing a murder for the benefit of a street gang.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Albert Wojcik summoned several panels of prospective jurors to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta for screening as to their availability and qualifications. Jury selection is expected to wrap up Wednesday.

According to the District Attorney's Office, a dispute between the defendant and a group of youths and young adults gathered at the Depot Deli on Alessandro Street precipitated the violence that culminated in Ruben being shot to death.

Becerra, a member of the Trece street gang, allegedly traded insults with members of the group, several of whom belonged to a rival gang.

One of the rivals -- not Ruben -- took a swing at Becerra, who left to enlist the support of his older sibling, then-24-year-old Michael Wayne Delacruz, said Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky.

Delacruz, Becerra and four others piled into a Ford Explorer and drove to a residence at 130 Alessandro St., where they suspected the rivals were gathered, according to Strunsky.

He alleged that Delacruz armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and took a position in the rear of the Explorer.

When they reached the house around 1 a.m., Ruben and several of his friends were socializing outside, according to testimony from Delacruz's trial.

His girlfriend, Maria Lemus, stopped the vehicle, and Delacruz flung open the door and fired the shotgun, striking Ruben in the abdomen.

Strunsky said scatter shot went through the youth, killing him on the spot.

One of Ruben's associates was also armed with a shotgun and fired into the Explorer, striking Delacruz underneath his right arm as the vehicle sped away.

Based on witnesses' statements and other evidence collected at the scene, Delacruz was arrested by Hemet police less than a week later. He was convicted of murder in February 2013 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Lemus pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter and using a gun during a felony. She's expected to be sentenced in June to 15 years in prison.

Becerra is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center.

Man to Stand Trial for Allegedly Killing 14-Year-Old

MURRIETA - A man accused of instigating and taking part in a drive- by shooting that took the life of a 14-year-old Hemet boy must stand trial for murder and other charges, a judge ruled today.

Fernando Becerra, 25, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in the May 31, 2010, slaying of Ruben Alfaro.

Following the end of a preliminary hearing that went for two days -- with initial testimony on April 12 -- Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Rushton found there was sufficient evidence to bound Becerra over for trial on a murder count, plus special circumstance allegations of firing a gun from a moving vehicle and committing a murder for the benefit of a street gang.

Rushton set a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for May 9. Becerra remains held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

According to the District Attorney's Office, a dispute between the defendant and a group of youths and young adults gathered at the Depot Deli on the corner of Alessandro Street and Florida Avenue precipitated the violence that led to Ruben being killed.

Becerra, a member of the Trece street gang, allegedly traded insults with members of the group, several of whom belonged to a rival gang, according to investigators. One of the individuals -- not Ruben -- took a swing at Becerra, who left the scene to enlist the assistance of his older sibling, then-24-year-old Michael Wayne Delacruz, said Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky.

Delacruz, Becerra and four others, including Delacruz's girlfriend, Maria Luisa Lemus, piled into the latter's Ford Explorer and drove to a residence at 130 Alessandro St., where they suspected the rivals might be gathered, according to Strunsky. Strunsky said Delacruz armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and took a position in the rear of the Explorer. When they reached the house around 1 a.m., Ruben and several of his friends were socializing outside, according to testimony from Delacruz's trial. Lemus stopped the vehicle, and Delacruz flung open the door and fired the shotgun, striking Ruben in his abdomen.

Strunsky said scatter shot went through the youth, killing him on the spot. One of Ruben's associates was also armed with a shotgun and fired into the Explorer, striking Delacruz underneath his right arm as the vehicle sped away.

Based on the statements of witnesses and other evidence collected at the scene, Delacruz was arrested by Hemet police less than a week later.

''Delacruz told (a detective) that he kicked open the car door and pointed the gun out, but had no intention of actually firing it at anyone,'' Strunsky said. ''He claimed he fired the gun in self-defense once someone fired at him.''

Delacruz was convicted of murder and on Feb. 22 sentenced to life in prison without parole. Lemus pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter and using a gun during a felony. She's expected to be sentenced in July to 15 years in prison.

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MURRIETA - A man and his girlfriend accused of shooting and killing a 14-year-old Hemet boy in a drive-by attack near his home must stand trial for murder and other charges, a judge ruled today.

Michael Wayne Delacruz, 25, and Maria Luisa Lemus, 27, both of Hemet, are accused in the May 31, 2010, slaying of Ruben Alfaro.

A preliminary hearing for the defendants concluded today after two days of testimony in October. At the end of the hearing, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Mandio found there was sufficient evidence to hold Delacruz to answer a first-degree murder charge, as well as a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a firearm during a felony.

Mandio also ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Lemus to answer for murder. Mandio set a post-indictment arraignment for Dec. 5. Each defendant remains held in lieu of $1 million bail -- Delacruz at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, Lemus at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

Delacruz faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Lemus faces 25 years to life.

According to testimony, the defendants fatally shot Alfaro as the teenager stood outside his family's residence in the 100 block of Alessandro Street in Hemet around 1 a.m. About a half-hour earlier, Alfaro was involved in an altercation with Delacruz's brother, 23-year-old Fernando Becerra, outside the Depot Deli, around the corner from the victim's home, according to witnesses.

The confrontation allegedly prompted Delacruz and Lemus to go looking for Alfaro, investigators said. While Lemus was driving her black Ford Explorer, Delacruz, allegedly armed with a shotgun, positioned himself in the back of the sport utility vehicle, according to testimony.

The pair pulled alongside the curb where Alfaro was standing and opened fire, striking him in the midsection, prosecutors allege. Alfaro was pronounced dead at the scene.

The alleged attack was witnessed by a nearby resident familiar with all the parties involved, a woman identified in court records as Stephanie Marquez. After gathering statements from her and other witnesses, police arrested Delacruz and Lemus without incident on June 4.

In the ensuing months, Becerra threatened Marquez's life if she testified against his brother. He was charged with witness intimidation, a felony, to which he pleaded guilty last month, resulting in a two-year prison sentence.