Former Reseda Man Sentenced in Slaying
A former Reseda resident was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years to life in prison for killing a man six years ago at a party, prosecutors said.
Ramon Mendoza, 39, shot Humberto Chavez in the head after a dispute over a woman at a party in Reseda, said Deputy Dist. Atty. James R. Bozajian.
Chavez, 25, had made a pass at Mendoza’s girlfriend, according to police. The woman, who witnessed the May 30, 1994, shooting, later testified against Mendoza, Bozajian said.
Mendoza fled after the shooting and remained at large until 1998, when officials located him in a Texas prison on another offense. His first trial ended in a hung jury, but in April, a Van Nuys Superior Court jury convicted him of second-degree murder.
On Tuesday, Judge Michael B. Harwin sentenced Mendoza to 15 years to life for the killing, plus four years for using a gun in the crime.
Before sentencing Mendoza, the judge denied defense motions for a new trial and for reducing the charge to voluntary manslaughter, Bozajian said.
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