CHINO : Man Given 35 Years in Drive-By Slaying

A Chino man convicted of killing a 15-year-old Pomona boy in a gang-related shooting two years ago has been sentenced to 35 years to life in prison.

Arthur Melendrez, 22, was convicted March 10 of killing Luis Lopez in a Nov. 10, 1991, drive-by shooting. Melendrez was sentenced last week in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The shooting was witnessed by four teen-age youths. One of them, 14-year-old Eduardo Samaniego, was shot and killed Aug. 17 last year, a week before he was to have testified against Melendrez. The three other boys, although initially reluctant to appear in court, gave testimony that helped convict Melendrez.