On July 2, 2010, 20-year-old Norberto Gonzalez, of Porterville, was sentenced to four years in State Prison by the Honorable Judge Elisabeth Krant.

On May 17, 2010, Victim Erick Garcia was shot and killed outside of a local convenience store in the city of Porterville. A few hours later, officers from the Porterville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by the defendant, Norberto Gonzalez. Officers searched the defendant's vehicle and located three firearms. One of the firearms was linked to the killing of Erick Garcia. This defendant was not present during the altercation at the store that led to the victim’s death.

On June 4, 2010, during the preliminary hearing on the matter, the defendant changed his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to all charges. The defendant pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the May 17th shooting and also admitted the special allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. In exchange for his plea of guilty, the court indicated a sentence of four years in state prison.

Per Penal Code section 32, an individual is an accessory to a crime if the person, knowing a felony has been committed and that that individual (perpetrator) committed the felony, harbors, conceals, or aids the known perpetrator with the intent that the perpetrator escape from arrest or trial.

The case was investigated by the Porterville Police Department; and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kerri Lopez.

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