ANTELOPE VALLEY : Gang Member Gets 25 Years to Life
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A judge has sentenced an Antelope Valley teen-age gang member to 25 years to life in prison in the murder of a Lancaster man at a pay-to-enter party.
Superior Court Judge Haig Kehiayan on Thursday sentenced Heriberto Torres, 19, in the June 2, 1991, slaying of Merle Grinder. Torres was not charged with firing the fatal shots, but with conspiracy.
At the party, Torres knifed one of Grinder’s friends, an alleged drug dealer, demanding his money and LSD, Deputy Dist. Atty. Franco Baratta said Friday. Grinder was shot to death when he tried to intercede on his friend’s behalf.
Torres was the fourth to be sentenced. Jim McGrath, 23, and Freddy Ruiz, 22, who fired the shots, were previously sentenced to 30 years to life.
Torres and the two others charged with the conspiracy were minors at the time of their arrests, but were certified by the court to be tried as adults.
Chad Braden, 17, is serving seven years in the custody of the California Youth Authority for voluntary manslaughter. Hector Birseno, 18, is trying to withdraw an August, 1992, guilty plea to second-degree murder charges and is scheduled for sentencing Thursday, Baratta said.
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