Camarillo Teen Guilty in Slaying of Moorpark Driver

A Camarillo teenager accused of instigating a deadly December crime spree was found guilty of murder and two related charges Thursday in connection with the gunshot slaying of a Moorpark motorist.

As his mother wept softly and held her face in her hands, 19-year-old Arturo Contreras Jr. sat motionless at the defense table, then brushed away a tear as the verdicts were read.

The jury took a day and a half to deliberate, coming back to the courtroom shortly before noon. The second-degree murder conviction is Contreras’ second strike, which means the teenager now faces a minimum sentence of 20 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.

“This is as tough as it gets,” Ventura County Superior Court Judge Stephen Z. Perren told jurors before dismissing them. “This is the most serious of crimes in the most serious of circumstances.”

Contreras was the driver of a car occupied by three fellow gang members Dec. 3 during a crime spree that started with a dispute at a Camarillo Taco Bell and ended with the random shooting of 25-year-old Jesus Zamudio Manjarrez.

In between, prosecutors said, the four men, ages 17 to 20, committed a racially motivated drive-by shooting by firing into the home of a black man Contreras wanted to threaten. Contreras’ attorney said the shooting was not racially motivated.

After the drive-by, the teens robbed a man at a Somis market. Then they drove to Moorpark--the scene of the fatal shooting.

Although Contreras did not fire the gun at Manjarrez--Michael Castro, now 21, is serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to the killing--prosecutors argued that Contreras was the instigator of the slaying and the entire 30-minute joy ride.

Contreras’ lawyer admitted that his client drove the car. But he said Contreras had no knowledge that Castro would jump out of the backseat and shoot the motorist in the head.

The teens had pulled up next to Manjarrez’s car at a red light after mistaking him for a rival gang member.

“Mr. Contreras made it clear that he didn’t want the gun in the car,” Willard P. Wiksell told the jurors in his opening statements.

Castro pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this year and is serving 30 years to life. Jose Duarte, 17, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for his involvement. Another 17-year-old was convicted in juvenile court of being an accessory to murder and was sentenced to 150 days in Juvenile Hall.

Contreras is the last to be prosecuted in the case.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Matthew J. Hardy said Contreras will face a minimum sentence of 20 years to life or a maximum sentence of 49 years to life because of a prior robbery conviction. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.

“Mr. Contreras is going to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Hardy said, “and that is where he belongs.”