5th Man Convicted in Pacoima Murder Case

The last of five defendants to be prosecuted for the kidnaping and slaying of an 18-year-old Pacoima man a year ago was convicted in San Fernando Superior Court Wednesday of second-degree murder.

Jurors deliberated less than three hours before finding 21-year-old Jesus Jose Robles of San Fernando guilty of all four counts against him in the killing of Ruben Cruz. Besides the murder count, jurors convicted Robles of kidnaping, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

Cruz, who police said was not affiliated with a gang, was abducted early on the morning of Nov. 1 in front of an all-night market at Osborne Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima by several youths yelling gang slogans.

Searchers found Cruz’s decomposing body a month later near Newhall, in a canyon next to the Golden State Freeway.

During Robles’ trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Cesar Sarmiento argued that, although Robles did not actually fire either of the two shots that killed Cruz, he was “equally culpable” for the death because he helped to drag Cruz into a pickup truck, beat him and torture him with lighted cigarettes.

Another defendant, Robert Ontiveros, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy as part of a plea bargain in which he agreed to testify against Robles. Ontiveros was sentenced in May to three years in state prison.

Three other defendants, Ronnie Luna, Michael Lucero and Benny Lucero, were convicted of murder in Juvenile Court and were sentenced to the California Youth Authority.

A sixth suspect, Ray Parra, has never been apprehended, Sarmiento said. He said Parra, who investigators believe fired the shots that killed Cruz, is on the Los Angeles Police Department’s 10 Most Wanted List and has been sought in Los Angeles, Chicago and Mexico.

Sarmiento said Robles faces 15 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder conviction and as much as 10 more years in prison for the three other charges when he is sentenced Dec. 18.