A jury found Carlos Espinoza guilty of all charges involving the August 2009 fatal shooting of a Salinas High School student who was on his way to football practice. Espinoza, 20, was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and street terrorism. Jurors also found true special allegations that Espinoza personally used a firearm and committed the crimes for the benefit, at the direction of and in association with a criminal street gang. Jurors began deliberations after closing arguments Friday. Espinoza was on trial for the murder of Jose Manuel Perez, 15, and attempted murder of another teenager on Aug. 6, 2009, in the 500 block of Terrace Street in Salinas. Perez died from multiple gunshot wounds. The other teen, identified as "Poncho" in court, was unscathed. He identified Espinoza as the shooter. Espinoza, 17 at the time of his arrest, was the remaining defendant in the case. Co-defendants Juan Nunez, Julio Montoya and Antonio Gayosso have pleaded to various charges for their roles in the homicide. According to testimony, the four went out in two cars in search of rival gang members in retaliation for an earlier shooting that had wounded a fellow Sureño gang member. Espinoza is scheduled for sentencing on May 17.
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