Santa Ana man who fled to Mexico found guilty of murdering his sister’s boyfriend

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0763

Date: April 14, 2017

MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF SISTER’S BOYFRIEND

*Defendant fled to Mexico and was extradited by authorities

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced today to 50 years to life in state prison for the shooting-murder of his sister’s boyfriend.

Defendant/Charges/Sentence:

Adan Rodriguez Leon, 34, Santa Ana. Found guilty by a jury on Feb. 9, 2017:

• One felony count of murder
• Sentencing enhancement for personal discharge of a firearm causing death was also found true
• 50 years to life in state prison

Circumstances of the Case

Leon was convicted and sentenced for the following:

• At approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 8, 2015, Leon went to the home of his sister’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Paul Guzman, in Santa Ana.
• Defendant contacted Guzman and walked down the sidewalk with him.
• Leon pulled out a loaded firearm, shot the victim multiple times, and ran away.
• The defendant then fled to Mexico.
• Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) was investigated this case.
• On April 10, 2015, authorities in Mexico detained the defendant on a warrant.
  SAPD took custody of the defendant on April 12, 2015.

Victim Impact Statements

During the sentencing today, the victim’s mother, sister, and aunt were present and delivered victim impact statements.

The victim’s sister, Amanda Guzman, said in part, “He was my big brother and my friend, and now he is gone … It hurts me even more that this [was done] by someone I knew, someone I grew up playing childhood games with.”

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

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