Juan Sotelo Gatica, a 26-year-old Santa Ana gangbanger, was sentenced this Thursday, Sept. 27 to 21 years in prison for the shooting death of Rodrigo Aguilar, a 15-year-old, during a robbery at a Santa Ana park four years ago.
Gatica pleaded guilty on Aug. 9 to a count of attempted robbery, five counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and a count of possession of a gun by a felon. He also admitted sentencing enhancements for gang activity.
As part of his plea deal, a count of murder was dismissed along with a special-circumstances allegation of a robbery and sentencing enhancements for gang activity.
Gatica’s co-defendant Daniel Contreras remains a fugitive. If you see him or know where he is be sure to call the SAPD at (714) 245-8665.
Aguilar went to El Salvador Park with five of his friends to play basketball, according to court papers filed by the prosecutors.
The teens ended up climbing onto the top of the park’s snack bar to share a marijuana joint as Gatica and Contreras were walking by and Gatica for some reason felt that the teens had disrespected his gang, according to the prosecutors.
Gatica and Contreras accosted the teens as they were leaving the park and going to their car, telling them to empty their pockets. One of the teens fought back, punching Gatica in the face repeatedly and eventually knocking Gatica out.
The other teens also fought back against Contreras and then started running away. That is when Contreras and Gatica showed what cowards they were as they shot at the backs of the teenagers, killing Aguilar.
Editor’s Note – It is annoying that the SAPD never released a booking photo of Juan Sotelo Gatica.
