Man Gets Life in Triple Slaying

A Palmdale man convicted of fatally shooting three men at an Arleta birthday party last year was sentenced to life in state prison.

Superior Court Judge Charles Peven on Wednesday sentenced Juan Guillen, 26, to three life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders, and three sentences of 25 years to life for discharging a firearm.

Guillen was found guilty in March of first-degree murder in the Jan. 14, 2001, shooting deaths of Joel Gonzalez, 27, of Arleta; Jesse Abel, 24, of Pacoima; and Jack Loutsios, 17, of North Hills. Before the sentencing Wednesday, Loutsios’ mother, Donna Loutsios, read a statement in the San Fernando courtroom.

“Jack was a nice young man that deserved to live his life, not to die at the hands of an animal,” she said, her voice quivering.

Holding up a framed photo of her son taken on his 17th birthday, she continued: “I want you to see his photo. This is Jack. He was handsome and had a small little smile.”

Peven said Guillen, who had been convicted of attempted murder in the wounding of 21-year-old German Lopez at the Arleta party, should be retried on that charge. The judge ruled that, despite the jury’s decision, insufficient evidence was presented at trial to warrant a conviction.

Outside the courtroom, Guillen’s attorney, Nancy Mazza, said she had hoped that Guillen would be eligible for parole. The convictions will be appealed, she said.

“I know in my heart he didn’t do this,” Mazza said.Guillen’s wife, Maria, 26, said his family and friends are raising money for an appeal. She maintained her husband’s innocence.

“We still have faith in God,” she said. “That’s what’s keeping us going through all of this.”