Gang Member Sentenced for Attempted Murder

Defendant Kevin Anthony Torres, 18 years old of Santa Rosa, was sentenced today by the Honorable Patrick Broderick to serve 19 years in state prison after having pled no contest in July of this year to charges of attempted murder.

District Attorney Ravitch stated, “It is very fortunate that the victims in this case did not lose their life at the hands of this defendant. It is hard to fathom the mindset of someone that is willing to take a life, or sacrifice their own, based on this type of dispute. Nonetheless, we will continue to hold such people responsible to the full extent of the law.”

The crime occurred September 25, 2016 when the defendant was 16 years old. The victims were 18 and 19 years old at the time. The defendant, along with three others, drove up to the victims outside the Pioneer Apartments, asked if they were part of a rival gang, indicated the territory was their gang territory, and then started a brawl. Kevin Torres brandished a gun and shot both victims. Multiple individuals, including one victim, identified Mr. Torres as the shooter.

Due to changes in the law during the pendency of the case, a court was required to conduct a fitness hearing to determine whether the defendant should be prosecuted as an adult. Similar hearings were held for two of the co-defendants and a judge determined each of the three should be tried as adults. The fourth was an adult at the time of the offense.

Torres was the last of four co-defendants to be sentenced in the matter. Miguel Gonzalez, Alfonso McCloud, and James Villa were all previously sentenced based on the same conduct.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jenica P. Leonard, assisted by District Attorney Investigator John McCutcheon. Tatiana Lopez provided victim services and Santa Rosa Police Department headed the investigation.