Sentence 39 years for SP man convicted of attempted murder
August 07, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula gang member who could have spent more than 51 years in prison on attempted murder and other charges was sentenced Tuesday to 39 years.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Mark S. Borrell sentenced Steven Cortez, 21, Tuesday after a jury found Cortez guilty of two counts of attempted murder as well as committing a crime in association with a criminal street gang.
The attempted murders occurred during a drive-by shooting December 27, 2014 in Fillmore. The victim testified that he was walking with his brother in the area of 4th and B streets when they were confronted by suspects in a vehicle who fired on them. Once shots were fired the brothers ran from the area although one man was struck by a bullet and received a non-life threatening wound.
Shortly after the shooting, the driver of the vehicle involved in the shooting lost control and crashed in the area of Old Telegraph Road and Highway 126.
When responding officers found that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Ventura the three occupants—like Cortez the two others were also found to be Santa Paula gang members—were arrested. The investigation linked the detainees to the earlier shooting incident inside Fillmore city limits.
The three occupants including Cortez were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, possessing a stolen vehicle and street terrorism. Since his arrest Cortez had remained in jail on bail that was initially set at $1 million.
In addition to attempted murder Cortez was also found guilty of street terrorism and assault with a firearm. Prosecutors said the jury also found Cortez — a documented gang member known to area police — guilty of committing a crime in association with a criminal street gang.
Cortez could have been sentenced to the maximum term of 51 years and four months in a state prison but Borrell instead opted for abbreviated jail time.
The two arrested with Cortez, Christian Castaneda and Ricardo Magana have also had their day in court: Castaneda previously pleaded guilty on July 15 to attempted murder and car theft and was sentenced to serve 19 years in state prison. Magana previously pleaded guilty to assault with a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced August 12.
