LA Gang Member Sentenced to 90 Years

A Los Angeles gang member was sentenced to 90 years to life in prison recently for shooting a one-year boy last year. The little boy was being cradled in his father's arms as he was shot and killed. The motivation apparently had to do with gang warfare, although neither the little toddler nor his father was involved in a gang. The shooting occurred in June of 2012 when the shooter was only 15 years old himself. He apparently rode up to a crowd on his bicycle and opened fire, killing the little boy and injuring his father. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder last April. He was found to have gang associations and was charged as an adult.

According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the five worst cities in the nation for gang violence are Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Newark, and Oklahoma City. Los Angeles has long been known for its drive-by shootings as a gang violence phenomenon. Most people who are killed in Los Angeles through gang violence are Hispanic, who comprise about 48 percent of the population. According to the CDC's statistics gathered in a National Violent Death Reporting System, gang killings account for 61 percent of the deaths in people aged 15 to 24 in Los Angeles and 69 percent of the homicides in this age group in Long Beach.

Criminal Defense Firm in Los Angeles

Those facing criminal charges, whether they are gang-related or otherwise, are at risk for a number of penalties, such as jail or prison time, heavy fines, possible restitution, and other court-ordered actions. In the most serious cases, as in the story above, lengthy or even lifetime prison sentences may be the consequence for violent crimes such as murder and attempted murder.

In any criminal case, the most important step the accused can take is to find competent legal representation. The criminal defense law firm of Martinian & Associates serves clients in and around Los Angeles with experienced legal support. Founding attorney Tigran Martinian has 15 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney and his legal team of associates has additional decades of experience in this field. All of this experience stacks up to hundreds of jury trials which have been successfully handled. If you are facing any type of criminal charge, whether a misdemeanor or a serious felony, contact the firm to arrange to speak with a legal professional about your case as soon as possible.