Defendants' gang ties examined in trial for prostitute's killing

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- Two men charged in the slaying of a prostitute lived in Pomona, but prosecutors believe they were members of a Los Angeles gang.

The bulk of testimony today during a murder trial for the prostitute's killing came from a police officer who patrols the neighborhood claimed as territory of the gang, the 87th Street Gangster Crips.

If prosecutors can convince a jury that the prostitute's killing was carried out to bolster the reputation of the gang, the two men on trial could see their prison sentences lengthened by a term of 25 years to life.

Larry Darnell Shyne and Matthew James McClane are accused of participating in the attempted robbery of the prostitute -- Kimberly Michelle Sum -- which resulted in Sum, 41, being shot in the chest and killed on Dec. 19, 2008 at the Hotel Indigo in Ontario.

McClane, 29, as well as convicted co-conspirator Donald Ray Walker, are allegedly members of the 87th Street Gangster Crips.

Officer Jose Gasca of the Los Angeles Police Department said he has worked in the gang's territory for more than five years, and has had countless contacts and conversations with members of the gang, who Gasca said number about 140.

Gasca identified many of McClane's tattoos -- photos of which were projected in court -- as identifying markers of his membership in the gang.

McClane's arms, chest and back are covered with tattoos. He has several large "8" and "7" tattoos, as well as "Crip" written across his knuckles, which Gasca said are typical tattoos for members of the 87th Street Gangster Crips.

The officer said that members of Los Angeles gangs have moved away from their gang's traditional territory and now live throughout Southern California.

McClane and Walker are reportedly among several members of the 87th Street Gangster Crips who live in Pomona.

"I'm not surprised that they're there," Gasca said in West Valley Superior Court.

Prosecutors believe Shyne, also a Pomona native, was a member of a different Los Angeles gang.

A jury also heard testimony today about the contents of Sum's laptop, which police found in her room at the Hotel Indigo.

Ontario police Cpt. Mike Nevin testified that he completed a forensic search of the computer and discovered a Craigslist post by Sum, who reportedly used the website to find clients.

One of Sum's posts was projected in court. It was titled, "Hello? Are there any men out there?"

Nevin said he found 11 references to "Shyne" when he searched the computer, as well as a list of phone numbers that included Shyne's number. Prosecutors believe Shyne was Sum's former pimp.

Today's proceedings concluded the first two weeks of testimony in the trial, which is set to resume Monday morning.

"We're really trying to get this case finished by the end of next week," Judge Stephan Saleson told the jury. "That's what we're shooting for."