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Convictions of two upheld for killing of man in desert

by The AV Times Staff • November 28, 2018

Rudolfo Alcantar, Rosie Lee Morales, Christian Bojorquez

LOS ANGELES – A state appeals court panel on Wednesday upheld the convictions of a man and woman for the beating and shooting of a man who died nine days after being left in the Antelope Valley desert in 2012.

The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the evidence against Rudolfo Alcantar and Rosie Lisa Morales was “strong.”

But the appellate panel overturned jurors’ findings of gang and firearm allegations against the two and sent the case back for retrial on those allegations, finding that testimony from two witnesses had been erroneously admitted.

“We have found it necessary to vacate the gang enhancement findings for evidentiary error, and because the gang findings are invalid, there is no basis to affirm firearm findings that depended on the truth of those findings to dispense with the need for the prosecution to prove which of the defendants personally used or discharged the firearm,” the justices found. “We must therefore vacate the firearm findings, as well.”

The two would otherwise be re-sentenced if the prosecution opts not to re-try the allegations, according to the panel’s ruling.

In their 65-page ruling, the justices noted that Morales confessed to police detectives that she had lured the victim, Christian Bojorquez, into the desert under false pretenses in March 2012, was present when Alcantar shot Bojorquez, prevented him from getting away and later burned his vehicle and other evidence that would have incriminated her and Alcantar.

On March 5, 2012, 21-year-old Christian Bojorquez of Palmdale was found in the desert suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was airlifted to the hospital, but he died nine days later. [Photo by LUIS MEZA.]
“Even though he did not confess involvement in Bojorquez’s killing to law enforcement, as did Morales, the evidence of his guilt was still strong,” the panel wrote, noting that jurors heard evidence that Alcantar’s DNA was found at the remote scene of the crime and that three witnesses had seen him driving the victim’s vehicle shortly after the shooting.

The victim, who had been loosely associating with gang members, was targeted because he was believed to have been a “snitch” following a contact with police in November 2011, according to evidence presented during their trials before separate juries.

Alcantar was convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of possession of a firearm, with jurors finding true the special circumstance allegations of murder while lying in wait and murder during the commission of a carjacking. He was sentenced in March 2017 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Morales was found guilty of second-degree murder and arson of property and was sentenced to 48 years to life in state prison.

Lancaster resident John R. Eldridge, who came upon the victim while riding his motorcycle in the desert, was lauded earlier this month by Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey as a “courageous citizen” for calling 911 to get help for the 21-year-old victim, who died nine days later.

Previous related stories:

Lancaster man receives ‘Courageous Citizen’ award

Couple sentenced for 2012 gang murder in Lake Los Angeles

Two convicted in 2012 carjack-murder of Palmdale man

Suspects arrested in 7-month-old carjack murder case

Palmdale man shot, carjacked

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

12 comments for "Convictions of two upheld for killing of man in desert"

  1. Ron says

    December 1, 2018 at 8:54 am

    Just some of Calif. DACA kids.

    • Ron says

      December 3, 2018 at 9:48 am

      These are the Calif Dreamers. This is what you’re going get more of Calif. BUILD THE WALL100 Feet tall with razor wire.

      • trumpist#1 says

        December 3, 2018 at 12:11 pm

        The wall now also needs to separate Mexifornia from the United States as CA is no longer part of the constitutional republic.

      • Alexis says

        December 3, 2018 at 4:02 pm

        Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish, but the full name is La Ciudad de la Reina de los Angeles.

        • Tim Scott says

          December 4, 2018 at 10:06 am

          Really? I never knew the queen part. I always thought it was just the city of the angels, shortened in translation to just The Angels. Come to think of it, I never knew the angels even had a queen.

          • Laughing says

            December 4, 2018 at 2:23 pm

            It refers to Mary. Mother of Jesus , who is the Queen of Angels.

          • Tim Scott says

            December 4, 2018 at 2:44 pm

            Ooooooookay then. Somehow I missed that. I knew that in some denominations she is considered a saint, but this queen of the angels bit is new to me.

            Bottom line, if I said I was hopping on the 14 and headed down to Mary’s Town I’d be translating it correctly then?

        • Alexis says

          December 4, 2018 at 3:43 pm

          It’s a beautiful name!

    • Ron says

      December 3, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Trump is 100% right!!!!!! WE NEED THE WALL!!!!!

    • Alexis says

      December 3, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      You don’t care about the truth.

  2. Cynic says

    November 29, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    That cholo on the left has a weird head.

  3. Convictions says

    November 29, 2018 at 12:46 am

    “The victim, who had been loosely associating with gang members, was targeted…”

    Any level of association is a poor choice.

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