ACCUSED GANG MEMBER CONVICTED.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - A reputed reputed adj. referring to what is accepted by general public belief, whether or not correct. gang member faces more than 30 years to life in prison after being convicted of stealing a parked car from a young couple sitting inside. A Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court jury convicted 18-year-old Aaron Matheu of carjacking The criminal taking of a motor vehicle from its driver by force, violence, or intimidation. The u.s. justice department categorizes the crime of carjacking as a "completed or attempted Robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger and found true allegations that he used a firearm firearm, device consisting essentially of a straight tube to propel shot, shell, or bullets by the explosion of gunpowder. Although the Chinese discovered gunpowder as early as the 9th cent., they did not develop firearms until the mid-14th cent. and committed the offense to benefit a gang, prosecutors said. ``My theory was this was a training mission, an initiation crime, and that (co-defendant Mario) Garcia was in a leadership role during the crime and Matheu was a trainee. He was the less-experienced member of the gang,'' Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake said. The jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching its verdict Thursday. Matheu, who remained in custody in lieu of nearly $5 million bail, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 5. Garcia, 18, was sentenced in October to 53 years to life in prison for the carjacking that Matheu was involved in and for a second carjacking in which Garcia had an accomplice accomplice: see accessory. who has yet to be identified. Matheu also has been charged with attempted murder In the criminal law, attempted murder is committed when the defendant does an act that is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the crime of murder and, at the time of these acts, the person has a specific intention to kill. in connection with two drive-by shootings drive-by shooting Public health A phenomenon in which one or more persons–commonly members of street gangs, open fire à la Al Capone from moving vehicles, often in retaliation for an alleged wrong-doing by a rival gang Aug. 18 and 19 that targeted five witnesses to a shooting in March 2002. Also charged in that case is Matheu's brother, Byron, 24, and Juan Rodriguez, 19, officials said. The carjacking for which Matheu was convicted occurred about 11 p.m. Feb. 20, 2002, near 27th Street East and Avenue I. A young couple were sitting in a parked 1988 Mazda when two men approached and pointed guns at the pair and ordered them out of the car, officials said. ``Matheu and Garcia walked by dressed in identical clothing, black from head to toe, and returned 10 minutes later and ordered the victims out of the car,'' Blake said. ``Matheu broke a window and put a gun to the male victim's head.'' Both victims ran to a nearby residence to ask for help, and the two defendants took off in the car, Blake said. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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