Gang Member Sent to Prison Over Slaying : Local News in Brief

A Sepulveda man was sentenced in San Fernando Superior Court on Wednesday to 15 years in prison in the 1987 stabbing death of a rival gang member.

After a plea agreement, Juan Jose Lucas, 21, pleaded guilty on Feb. 8 to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a firearm in the killing of Joel Garcia, 16, of Panorama City.

Lucas and two other members of the 18th Street gang in North Hollywood--Angel Arellano, 27, and Byron Montenegro, 21--appeared at a Blythe Street gang party Nov. 8, 1987, at the United Auto Workers hall in the 11600 block of Sherman Way in North Hollywood, authorities said.

After arguing with some of the party-goers, the three men left, police said. They later returned with a shotgun and a knife, just as Garcia was leaving the hall. Montenegro fired the gun, but no one was hit. Garcia was then stabbed five times by Lucas in a struggle over the gun, authorities said.

Arellano, of Reseda, pleaded guilty last month to assault with a firearm and was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison. Montenegro, of San Fernando, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a firearm and was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison.