Two Involved in Drive-By Killing Sentenced, Fined

Two men who participated in a fatal drive-by shooting at a party in Santee were sentenced Tuesday to state prison.

Christopher Mendez, 21, of Santee was given an 11-year term by San Diego Superior Court Judge Allan Preckel. Co-defendant Ron Israel, 19, of San Diego, received a 10-year term. The judge fined both men $1,000.

The two men who actually fired shots into departing party guests had their sentencing delayed until Nov. 12.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Doug Mooney said Jose Crespo, 19, of San Diego , could be sentenced to 18 years to life after pleading guilty Sept. 18 to second-degree murder.

Jonathan McGee, 18, of San Diego also fired from the bed of the truck Israel was driving. But Mooney said it was Crespo’s shot that killed Asia Dunlap, 20, on March 2.

Three young men were also wounded in the shootings in the 8400 block of Rumson Drive. They were: James Buska, 20; Rocky Whitfield, 18, and Caesar Franco, 19, all of Santee.

McGee, Israel and Mendez all pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Israel also pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

The judge called the incident “senseless, violent conduct” involving “the absolute waste of human life.”

Dunlap was shot in the leg and initially was not believed to have been seriously injured, but he later died because the bullet hit an artery.

Crespo and Israel were convicted of vandalizing a synagogue and the home of a Jewish woman in San Carlos in 1988. They both were called to testify in July in the lawsuit filed by Adele Goldberg, 32, against the parents of the 16-year-old girl who drove them to the area when the vandalism occurred.

Both cited their 5th Amendment right not to testify against themselves. Jurors later awarded no damages to Goldberg.

Preckel also allowed Israel to serve the first part of his sentence in the custody of the California Youth Authority until age 25. He will later be transferred to prison to complete the term.

The judge also ordered Israel and Mendez to pay restitution to the families of the victims but did not specify how much.