Steven Cortez

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on August 4, 2015, Superior Court Judge Mark S. Borrell sentenced Steven Cortez (DOB 03/09/94), of Santa Paula, to serve 39 years in state prison for two counts of attempted murder. A jury convicted Cortez in June 2015 of two counts of attempted murder in violation of Penal Code section 664/187(a), street terrorism in violation of Penal Code section 186.22(a), and two counts of assault with a firearm in violation of Penal Code section 245(a)(2). The jury also found true special allegations that the defendant intentionally discharged a firearm during the commission of the crime, and that the crime was committed in association with the 12th Street Locos criminal street gang. Cortez and Santa Paula
gang members Christian Castaneda and Ricardo Magana were arrested in December 2014 after Cortez shot two victims as they walked on a street near their home in Fillmore. The crime was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

Castaneda previously pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle,
and was sentenced on July 15, 2015, to serve 19 years in state prison. Magana previously pleaded guilty to charges of assault with a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2015.