A Yolo County jury found a Sacramento man guilty in the 2009 beating of a West Sacramento man.  On Wednesday, the jury reached a verdict, convicting Michael Romero of attempted murder along with gang enhancements for a 2009 attack that occurred in West Sacramento.
According to the DA’s press release issued on Thursday, “The forty-seven-year-old victim was attacked by Romero and another gang member in the early morning hours of January 21, 2009. A Good Samaritan who was driving by the attack testified that the victim was being savagely beaten on the ground by the two men. He courageously turned his truck around and interrupted the attack. The beating left the victim comatose in the street. As a result of the attack, the victim suffered permanent physical injuries and mental disabilities.”

The press release states that “Another witness testified that minutes later she saw Romero remove one of the victim’s teeth from his hand. Romero was arrested about a month later in Sacramento County. His accomplice, Antonio Delgado, was arrested by West Sacramento Police officers about ten days after the beating. A jury convicted Delgado of attempted murder and other charges earlier this year. West Sacramento Police Officer Michael Duggins testified at trial that these brutal attacks by gang members enhance their reputations and instill fear in the community.”
District Attorney Jeff Reisig said, “It is brutal gang cases such as this that vividly demonstrate the terror that criminal street gangs bring to our communities. Thankfully, a brave citizen stopped to intervene before the victim was killed.”

According to the DA’s Office, “Sentencing is set for November 10th, 2010 before the Honorable Judge Stephen Mock. Romero faces a potential sentence of life in prison.”

A Yolo County jury had previously convicted Mr. Romero of the other counts, but hung on the attempted murder charge.

Supervising DA Garrett Hamilton represented the people in this case, against Yolo County Conflict Attorney Robert Spangler.
“You will learn about Nortenos and that respect is very, very important, and that fear equals respect.  They create fear by violence,” DDA Hamilton said in his opening statement.