2 Sentenced for Fatal Drive-By in Camarillo

A Ventura County judge Thursday ordered two Oxnard gang members to serve more than 100 years each in state prison for killing one teenager and wounding two others in a drive-by shooting in Camarillo last year.

Jose Centeno and Heriberto Arevalo, both 19, were convicted of first-degree murder earlier this year for the July 6, 2002, slaying of Eric Robles, 18, of Oxnard.

The defendants were also convicted of two counts of attempted murder for shooting Julio Espinoza, 18, and Miguel Rocha, 19, both of Camarillo.

The shooting occurred when Centeno and Arevalo drove through a rival gang’s neighborhood and recognized one of the victims, prosecutors said.

Centeno pulled up next to the victims’ vehicle and, after a verbal exchange, Arevalo began shooting with a .40-caliber handgun.

Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Miles Weiss said Thursday that each defendant was sentenced to 50 years to life for his murder conviction.

Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee imposed additional time based on the attempted murder convictions and weapon and gang enhancements.

Weiss said the end result was that Arevalo would have to serve 122 years and Centeno 109 years before being eligible for parole. “In effect,” he said, “it’s a life sentence.”