Gangbanger charged with murdering one Santa Ana woman and trying to murder another one

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13HF2731 & 13CF2980

Date: September 14, 2015

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF ONE WOMAN AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FEMALE BYSTANDER

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the murder of one woman and attempted murder of a female bystander. Co-defendant Irvin Tellez, 27, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count each of murder and attempted murder, with sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and great bodily injury. If convicted, Tellez faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Sept. 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Jaime Prieto Rocha, 42, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2015, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. Rocha is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

Rocha is convicted of and Tellez is accused of the following:

At the time of the crime, Rocha was friends with Tellez and 28-year-old Nancy Hammour.

After midnight on Sept. 2, 2013, Rocha drove with Tellez into a Santa Ana neighborhood, with Hammour in the backseat. The defendants are accused of spotting an unknown woman, 31-year-old Elizabeth G., who was standing outside on the curb waiting for a friend to pick her up. The defendants are accused of engaging Elizabeth G. in a conversation and Tellez is accused of pulling out a 9mm firearm and shooting Elizabeth G. in the face. The defendants are accused of driving away and fleeing the scene. Tellez is accused of turning his firearm on Hammour and shooting her in the face. Nancy H. slumped onto the back floorboards still alive. Tellez is accused of shooting Hammour in the face a second time, murdering the victim.

The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) responded to sounds of gunshots reported. Elizabeth G. was immediately transported to a hospital. She survived the gunshot wound.

The defendants are accused of driving to Newport Beach to dispose of Hammour’s body. Rocha and Tellez are accused of dumping the body somewhere near the Newport Bay Bridge off Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

Early on Sept. 2, 2013, Rocha drove south toward Oceanside and called a company to request towing. Shortly thereafter, Oceanside Police Department officers arrested Rocha.

On the morning of Sept. 2, 2013, the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) found Nancy H.’s body underneath the Newport Bay Bridge. NBPD and SAPD investigated this case.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718