Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Murder
An Oxnard gang member who fled the country after a fatal shooting pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday.
George Evangelista Doctolero admitted in court that he shot Jose Basilian outside John’s Rendezvous Restaurant in the 3700 block of Saviers Road in Oxnard on Jan. 19, 1997.
Doctolero and Mario Desequera, who was convicted last week of second-degree murder for ordering Doctolero to pull the trigger, had been arguing with a friend of Basilian when he pulled out a gun and fired.
Basilian’s mother said her son was trying to protect his friend.
After the shooting, Doctolero fled to the Philippines. He was the first fugitive returned to the United States under a new extradition treaty with the Philippines.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron Bamieh said the court was picking the jury when Doctolero entered his plea.
Doctolero was convicted of one count of second-degree murder, and one count of using a deadly weapon in the commission of that murder.
He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. He will be sentenced Aug. 3.
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