A jury found Michael Robert Ortiz guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in connection with the stabbing of Anthony "Tony" Casillas two years ago.

In the courtroom, the verdict elicited deep sobs of joy and sorrow from relatives of the victim and defendant.

After the jury's decision, the prosecutor said she was very pleased with the verdict. The defense attorney said it was a "complete surprise."

"An excellent verdict by a very intelligent and hardworking jury. They got it right," Senior Deputy District Attorney Chrystina Jenson said.

Ortiz's lawyer, Richard Hanawalt, said this kind of verdict can be expected in Ventura County, where jurors are conservative, adding that it didn't help his case that his client was a heavily tattooed, Southside Chiques gang member.

"It seemed inconceivable that they can arrive at this kind of a verdict, but you've got to realize, this is Ventura County. Things happen here that we don't encounter in other counties," Hanawalt said. "I am not saying this in a case of whining, but it is a realistic fact; we have far more conservative voters and jurors in Ventura County."

Ortiz, 25, of Oxnard, appeared stunned when the guilty verdict was read along with jurors' finding that a weapon was used in the commission of the crime.

Outside the courtroom, Casillas' 17-year-old daughter Andriea thanked and hugged Jenson and the investigators in the case.

With tears in her eyes, Andriea Casillas said she will remember her father as "a very friendly and loving" man.

Delinah Castro, the mother of Casillas' 7-year-old daughter, said the victim had five children. "He was a loving father," Castro said.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3.

Hanawalt said in an interview that he plans to file legal motions asking the judge to reduce the charge from first-degree to second-degree murder.

"The evidence does not support a first-degree verdict," Hanawalt said.

Ortiz is facing 27 years to life in prison when he is sentenced, Jenson said.

Ortiz used a 15-inch knife to stab Casillas after a heated argument in a residence in Port Hueneme.

Hanawalt told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday that it was an accident and that his client never intended to kill the 37-year-old Casillas. Jenson said it was a murder by a cold-blooded killer, who plunged the knife into Casillas without provocation.

Jenson maintained that Ortiz's motive for killing Casillas was revenge after Casillas struck a close friend of an influential gang member.