DA: No Death Penalty In Teen's Killing

The District Attorney's Office will not seek the death penalty for two young men charged with the murder of one Watsonville teenager and attempted murder of another, Assistant District Attorney Steve Moore said in court Friday.

Jesse Lopez, 14, and his friend, also 14, were ambushed in a gravel turnout on Hecker Pass, outside of Watsonville, the night of Dec. 10. . A second car with more gang members followed and when the vehicles stopped, the boys were shot.

Jesse was left bleeding in the gravel. His friend, who was shot in the leg, ran into the woods to hide until emergency personnel arrived. Jesse died later at Watsonville Community Hospital.

Two of the five have been charged with the most-serious crimes: murder and attempted murder.

They faced a possible punishment of death, if convicted, but Moore said that was off the table during a court appearance before Judge Ariadne Symons. Outside of court, Moore declined to elaborate about the decision.

Sanchez and Rodriguez could still be sentenced to life in prison without the possiblity of parole, if convicted.

Three other young men face allegations they were accessories to the attack. Juan Carlos Soto Gonzalez, 20, Carlos Valencia, 22, and Uriel Ortiz, 18, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Friday, the attorney for Soto Gonzalez declared a conflict in the case. JJ Hamlin was removed from the case and attorney Shaneen Porter was appointed to represent Soto Gonzalz.

All five defendants were in court Friday to set a date for the preliminary hearing, the time when the D.A.'s Office will present an outline of the case against the young men. From that, Symons will determine if there is enough evidence to hold them for trial.

However, no hearing was set. Rather, the defendants will return to court Jan. 18 for another setting. All remain in County Jail.

Mark Garver from the Public Defender's Office will be Rodriguez's legal counsel, according to Public Defender Jon Minsloff, who originally got the case.

Also, Sanchez had a cast on his right arm, something that wasn't present during the defendant's last court date, back in mid-December.

Jesse's family sat in the front row, behind Moore, through the proceeding. Relatives of some of the defendants also were in court.

For all of Patch's coverage of Jesse Lopez's death, click here.