Crime & Safety
Jury: Salinas Man Guilty of Apple Hill Gang Slaying
Julian Escobar will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the March 2009 fatal shooting in Watsonville.
Jurors on Friday found a 26-year-old Salinas gang member guilty of fatally shooting a teenager on a Watsonville basketball court more than two years ago.
Julian Escobar faces life in prison without the possiblity of parole. He will be sentenced Sept. 23, Watsonville's Register Pajaronian newspaper reported.
Escobar and Jose Sandoval were accused of killing Angel Escobedo, 19, on March 21, 2009, while Escobedo played basketball with some friends.
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Both Escobar and Sandoval were put on trial this summer, but each had his own jury. After a month of testimony, the two juries started deliberations Monday.
Escobar's returned the guilty verdict Friday morning. Sandoval's jury continued to mull over the case, according to the Pajaronian.
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About a dozen of Escobedo's relatives were in court to hear jurors pronounce Escobar guilty, the Pajaroian reported. Family members lauded the verdict and praised the law enforcement officers who worked the case.
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