Woman sentenced for acting as accessory to Montclair murder

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A woman convicted of acting as an accessory to a murder committed by her boyfriend was sentenced today in West Valley Superior Court to a year in jail.

Christina Marie Pena, 21, was accused of trying to craft an alibi for her boyfriend when she was interviewed by police about the shooting death last year of 38-year-old George Salsgiver of Ontario.

Jose Ramon Lopez, 26, was convicted of first-degree murder for Salsgiver's killing, and sentenced to 91 years to life in prison. Pena pleaded guilty last year to a felony accessory charge.

Prosecutors accused Lopez of shooting and killing Salsgiver on July 24, 2009 after the two men -- strangers before their encounter -- got into a brief argument in a parking lot near Stater Bros. at Central Avenue and Palo Verde Street in Montclair.

In addition to sentencing Pena to jail, Judge Stephan G. Saleson placed her on probation for three years.

While on probation, Pena is prohibited from associating with felons and gang members, and cannot use drugs or possess weapons, according to minutes of her sentencing.

Pena was ordered to surrender on Jan. 14 in West Valley Superior Court to begin serving her jail sentence.