Man Convicted In Fatal Gang Shooting

YUBA CITY, Calif. (AP) -- A Sutter County man convicted of first-degree murder has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for a 2004 gang-related shooting that killed a 16-year-old boy.

Judge Brian Aronson ruled Friday that 25-year-old Jose Luis Cervantes of Yuba City will not be able to apply for parole for 50 years, the Appeal-Democrat of Marysville reports.

Prosecutors say Cervantes, a Norteno gang member, was driving a car on Garden Highway in Yuba City when he pulled up alongside a van containing members of another gang. Shots were fired from the car into the van, killing Jose Chavez, who authorities say was hoping to join the rival gang.

Cervantes also was sentenced to 15 years to life for the attempted murder of the van's driver. He will serve both sentences concurrently.

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