Oxnard Man Pleads Guilty to 2009 Murder
VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jonathan Gallegos (DOB 3/23/91), of Oxnard, pled guilty to second-degree murder with the use of a knife and for the benefit of a criminal street gang for the January 17, 2009, killing of Alfredo Vargas, also of Oxnard.
On the night of January 17, 2009, Gallegos and a group of fellow gang members armed themselves with knives and guns and attacked guests at a party they believed to be thrown by a rival gang in Oxnard. In fact, the party was for a child’s first birthday. Undeterred by the presence of children, Gallegos and his cohorts attacked the adult party-goers and stabbed multiple victims, including Alfredo Vargas, who died from his wounds. In 2013, after a lengthy investigation by the Oxnard Police Department, Gallegos and fellow gang members were arrested and charged for their roles in the attack. Gallegos, who was 17 years old at the time of the attack, was prosecuted as an adult due to the severity of his crimes. In 2017, Gallegos was granted a hearing to have his case returned to juvenile court. At the hearing, a judge considered Gallegos’ request and denied it. Two defendants still await trial.
Gallegos will be sentenced on April 25, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura. It is expected he will be sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
