On May 6, 2010, the Honorable Judge Joseph Kalashian sentenced defendant Jose Loza, 23, from Ivanhoe, to 21 years in state prison for attempted murder and gang-related charges. On April 6, 2010, the defendant pled no contest to the one count of attempted murder, a special allegation for use of a knife, a special allegation to personally causing great bodily injury, and a special allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

On the evening of April 12, 2009, in the city of Visalia, several juveniles and adults were at a residence off of Main Street partying. Around midnight a gang member got into a fight with victim #1 in the backyard of the residence where several of the partygoers had congregated and were dancing. The defendant came over to assist his fellow gang member in the attack. The defendant pulled out a knife and stabbed victim #1 in the upper body area.

A friend of the victim (victim #2) came over to help victim #1 when he was stabbed by the defendant in the upper body. A third friend (victim #3) also came over to assist and he too was stabbed in the upper body. The defendant fled the scene after the stabbings.

Victim #1 is still recuperating from his injuries, both physically and mentally. The other two victims have recovered from their injuries.

The defendant was found about a month later at his residence after police were called regarding a drive-by shooting that occurred at his residence.

The case was investigated by the Detective Curtis Brown and Mike Verissimo of the Visalia Police Department. The Tulare County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigations also assisted in the investigation.
 

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani D. Jenkins, (559) 733-6411.