Murder case dismissed for woman charged in 1990 Pomona drive-by
Murder charges were dismissed Thursday against a woman accused of participating in a 1990 drive-by shooting that left a 4-year-old boy dead.
In two trials last year, jurors deadlocked in favor of not-guilty verdicts for Stephanie Renteria, 36, who was arrested in January 2008.
Pomona Superior Court Judge Thomas Falls dismissed the case against Renteria Thursday upon a motion from the prosecution. Falls ordered Renteria released from custody.
Prosecutors accused Renteria of driving the car used in the June 20, 1990 shooting at Lebee Avenue and Randy Street in Pomona.
Gilbert Perez was sitting in his mother's lap in a parked car when two people in a passing car opened fire with handguns.
Perez was shot in the head and pronounced dead shortly after at a local hospital.
In two trials last year, jurors overwhelmingly favored not-guilty verdicts for Renteria. The first jury deadlocked 9-3, and the second deadlocked 10-2.
The decision by prosecutors to move to dismiss charges -- rather than move forward with a third trial -- was based primarily on the jurors' split in favor of acquittal, said Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd.
"We had tried it already twice, and each time the jury hung in favor of not guilty," Dodd said. "It's pretty clear that with the evidence we had currently, it wasn't enough for jurors to convict."
Renteria, an Upland resident and married mother of two teens, was expected to be released from custody at about noon Thursday. She had been jailed since her Jan. 23, 2008 arrest.
In August 2007, the boy's mother, Julianna Perez, told Pomona cold-case detectives that the car used in the drive-by belonged to Renteria, and was being driven by Renteria as well.
Julianna Perez told the detectives she did not identify Renteria as the driver at the time of the shooting because of Perez's own gang activity, according to a statement of probable cause attached to a search warrant used in Renteria's case.
On Feb. 13, 2008, about three weeks after Renteria's arrest, an anonymous caller who said she was a former member of Renteria's church told detectives that in 1991 or 1992, Renteria admitted her involvement in a drive-by shooting during a church testimonial.
The caller told detectives that Renteria said the shooting was in Pomona, and may have resulted in a baby being killed.
Renteria's family members and associates at her church, House of Praise Fellowship in La Verne, said in interviews following Thursday's hearing that Renteria had nothing to do with Gilbert Perez's death.
Renteria graduated high school the day of the shooting, and during the time the shooting took place was attending a graduation party, her supporters said.
"I think the police made a big mistake, a very big mistake," said Debra Wilson, Renteria's mother. "I don't think they did a proper investigation nearly 20 years ago. ... They made too many errors."
Wilson said she was "so thankful to God" that Renteria would be released from custody.
Dodd said he remained convinced that Renteria was involved in the shooting. "I wouldn't be trying the case if I didn't," he said.
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