El Monte: February 2012 Archives
NORWALK -- A 23-year-old El Monte man was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison Thursday for the 2009 attempted murder of a Bellflower woman, who was drugged, had her throat slashed and was stabbed and beaten before she was tossed over the edge of Turnbull Canyon and left for dead.
Vincent Mendoza showed no reaction to the sentence, handed down by Norwalk Superior Court Judge Michael Cowell, who noted the "high degree of viciousness and cruelty" displayed in the attack on then-20-year-old Christina Martinez.
Defense Attorney Harriet Hawkins argued the court had discretion not to sentence her client on each individual count of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
An allegation that Mendoza personally used a weapon, a knife, was also found to be true by a jury last December. He is one of three men convicted in the case.
Cowell agreed Thursday that he had the option to sentence Mendoza on one count, but said the severity of the crime demanded more.
EL MONTE -- Police are seeking a man accused of stabbing another man during a fight at a fast-food restaurant Wednesday.
A man, his wife and a friend of his wife met about 7 a.m. at a McDonald's restaurant at Valley Boulevard and Baldwin Avenue, El Monte police Lt. Dan Burlingham said.
The husband, a man in his mid- to late-20s, was confronted by his wife's friend and a fight ensued, the lieutenant said.
The suspect pulled a knife and stabbed the husband three to four times in the neck and upper torso, Burlingham said. Police were looking into the possibility two men who were with the suspect also jumped into the fray.
The wounded man was hospitalized in stable condition.
The knife-wielding man and his friends fled the scene before officers arrived and remained at-large Thursday, police said.
The attacker was initially described only as a Latino man in his late-20s.
Anyone with information is asked to call El Monte police at 626-580-2110.
CONTRIBUTORS
|
| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
|
|
Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
Recent Comments
opuvoxittze on Arson suspected in Pasadena house fire: PCj846 zycpnjmqxrbx ...
nttzcmuhowu on Three men steal $25,000 from elderly Norwalk woman: T321h5 bfcxvpoqhksq ...
twhbsduvmf on Shooting reported in Norwalk: IGqhxM xxmnpsgknjjn ...
eebpia on Officials: Suspect shot by CHP in Industry brandished handgun: icWtJ2 aauuetxqddlg ...
draecghzf on Saw this on MyDeath Space: 1eWiZk wkdthvhojvfv ...
pccmpwqqsnk on La Habra man charged with $5 million fraud becomes fugitive after missing court appearance: lPVC5b gsibedmzkecj ...
wkhdaaylrzs on Police detective shot in Long Beach: dvALWi tgaqownwdpep ...
tdhorvvbj on Police urge caution after 'hot prowl' burglaries in Arcadia: q3IEQ1 jpwhaoekihsr ...
xuhjdatk on O.J.'s LONGEST RUN: eAX2b2 jwqhtyigctgf ...