Man sentenced in student's killing

ALHAMBRA - A 29-year-old Rosemead man was sentenced last week to 84 years to life in prison for the 2005 slaying of a Gabrielino High School senior.Gabriel Guerrero was convicted by a jury on Aug. 30 of one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Jurors also found true gun and gang enhancements. Halfway through the trial, Guerrero pleaded no contest to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, prosecutors said. He also admitted one prior strike for a robbery conviction in 2000 and admitted one serious felony for the same offense. The court denied a defense motion for a new trial. Judge Dorothy Shubin also ordered Guerrero to pay $2,700 to the state's victim compensation fund, $7,600 to the victim's father and $1,880 to the victim's mother, with 10 percent interest. A co-defendant, Sarah Toledo, who faces the same charges as Guerrero, is due in court on Nov. 24 for the start of a jury trial. Ryan Dassala, 17, died from a gunshot wound to the back on April 27, 2005. Guerrero and his brother, Daniel - both members of the Varrio Nueva Estrada gang - allegedly shot Dasalla because they believed he was associated with members of a tagging crew who had beaten Guerrero's youngest brother the night before. Dasalla was not involved in that beating, prosecutors said. Toledo allegedly helped Guerrero target the victim. The shooting took place about one block away from Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel.

********** Published: November 4, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 29