On November 7, 2005, Frankie Ponce, 15, of Tulare, was committed to the California Youth Authority for two counts of first degree murder. The murders occurred on October 6, 2004, and October 20, 2004. He was committed with a maximum term of 5 years, 4 months, followed by 50 years to life, followed by two consecutive life sentences. The California Youth Authority must release him when he attains the age of 25

On October 6, 2004, victim Francisco Mendoza was driving to work in mid-afternoon. Ponce confessed that he saw Mendoza driving in his car, and knew him from a prior altercation. Ponce was handed a gun and shot Mendoza twice. He then fled the scene of the shooting at Cross and West Streets in Tulare.
On October 20, 2004, victim Michael Chandler was in brown suburban in Tulare with Ponce and David Martinez. Ponce confessed that he and Martinez both shot Chandler one time. Ponce stated that he was told to shoot Chandler by Martinez, and did so.

The Honorable Judge Valeriano Saucedo found both counts of murder in the juvenile petition to be true. He also found the special circumstance of multiple murders to be true. In the Mendoza murder, he found the special circumstance of a drive-by murder to be true. In both murders, the court found true the special allegations that defendant was an active participant in a criminal street gang, and that defendant personally discharged a firearm. The court also found true the special allegation that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Dan Underwood of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and investigated by Detectives Ben Rodriguez, Brian Haney, and Darren Altermatt of the Tulare Police Department.

Contact Persons:
Carol Turner, Assistant District Attorney (559) 733-6411