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Man, 24, pleads guilty in gang-related killing
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More from CourtsAntonio Navarrete pleaded guilty Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court to murdering 19-year-old Vincent Martinez of Oxnard, a killing prosecutors say was gang-related.
"They knew each other," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Chrystina Jenson. The two were members of rival tagging crews, she said.
"What was aggravated about this murder is that it was, No. 1, a drive-by and No. 2, it was completely senseless." Jenson said the attack was the result of a tagging-crew incident in Oxnard.
"And now, a young man died for that," she said.
About 6:30 p.m. on March 11, 2005, Martinez stepped outside of his home in south Oxnard to join some friends.
Police said Navarrete, who was driving a sport utility vehicle, pulled up to the area where Martinez was standing and allegedly shot him while driving by.
The 24-year-old Navarrete will get 50 years to life in prison for pleading guilty to the charge of first-degree murder involving a drive-by gang-related slaying.
Martinez's mother, Marisa Martinez, was in the courtroom when Navarrete pleaded guilty to the murder. She sighed deeply and wept when her son's name was read in court as part of the plea agreement.
Navarrete's lawyer, Russell Baker, who is with the Public Defender's Office, declined to comment after the court hearing.
Navarrete also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two other, unrelated felony charges: unlawful transportation of cocaine and vandalism of more than $400. Both of those crimes were committed in 2007.
Judge Kevin McGee set the sentencing for July 30. The judge told Navarrete that he is facing up to a $10,000 fine on each of the felonies, including the murder.
Navarrete will have to serve 50 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole, Jenson said.
"His parole officer hasn't been born yet, assuming he ever makes parole, which is unlikely," she said.
Martinez graduated from Channel Islands High School, where he played basketball and football. He had been preparing for a new job as a janitor at a convalescent home.
