Man sentenced to life for killing his lover with a rock and stealing his stuff

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10ZF0093: June 3, 2013

MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR MURDERING LOVER BY BEATING HIM WITH ROCK TO STEAL VICTIM’S MONEY, CAR, AND ELECTRONICS

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced Friday, May 31, 2013, to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his lover by beating him to death with a rock in order to steal the victim’s car, money, and valuables. Jose Fuentes, 26, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury, March 20, 2013, of one felony count of murder with special circumstance sentencing enhancements for murder by lying in wait, murder in the commission of a robbery, and murder in the commission of a burglary. He was also found guilty of one felony count each of first degree robbery and first degree residential burglary.

Prior to June 5, 2010, Fuentes had a one-month intimate relationship with Pedro Cerecer. The defendant plotted for several days to murder the victim in order to steal Cerecer’s money, valuable electronics, and car.

On June 5, 2010, Fuentes went to the victim’s Santa Ana apartment to share drinks and have sex with Cerecer. The defendant waited in the apartment until the victim went to sleep. He then straddled Cerecer as he slept and murdered the victim by beating him to death with a decorative rock.

Fuentes stole the victim’s credit cards, cell phone, and electronic equipment, including his flat screen television, and loaded the stolen property into Cerecer’s Toyota sedan. He then fled the scene.

On June 6, 2010, Fuentes was stopped while driving by the Garden Grove Police Department. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and driving without a valid license. The car Fuentes was driving was impounded.

The Santa Ana Police Department, who was investigating the murder of Cerecer, ran a search for Cerecer’s car and found it had been impounded by Garden Grove police.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

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

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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