 | |
| Eric will be 272 Years OLD when he gets out of LA County Jail. Holy Crap. |
LONG BEACH – A 17-year-old Long Beach youth convicted of carrying out a gang murder to avenge the killing of his younger brother was sentenced today to spend the remainder of his life in prison.
Long Beach Superior Court Judge J.D. Lord sentenced Eric Antonio Benites to 255 years, 8 months to life in prison. Benites was convicted July 28 of the first-degree murder of Florentino Rivera on Jan. 6, 2008.
Jurors found true special allegations of gang murder and principal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death.
Benites also was convicted of five counts of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder. The defendant additionally was convicted of one count each of assault with a firearm and possession of live ammunition by a minor.
A separate jury convicted co-defendant Jason Trejo, 16, on July 27 of first-degree murder. Jurors found true gang and personal use of a firearm allegations, and an allegation that a principal discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury and death.
Trejo was additionally convicted of four counts of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder. The defendant also was convicted of one count of assault with a firearm.
Trejo is expected to be sentenced on Sept. 10. He faces a maximum prison term of 214 years to life.
Deputy District Attorney Patrick Frey of the Hardcore Gang Division prosecuted both cases.
Benites and Trejo killed Rivera to avenge the murder of Benites’ younger brother, Jose Cano, 13. Cano was killed on June 26, 2007, by rival gang members. Benites turned on associates of a local gang when they failed to retaliate following Cano’s murder.
No comments:
Post a Comment