Judge puts armed liquor store robber away for life
SANTA PAULA — Alexander Mendez marked his 42nd birthday just one day before he was sentenced Jan. 21 for an attempted robbery that took place more than two years ago.
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, Mendez — a well-known Santa Paula gang member with a significant prior criminal history — entered a local liquor store brandishing a rifle with which he threatened the store clerk. When the clerk grabbed the rifle, Mendez fired the gun, shooting him in the wrist, then firing twice more, hitting him in the stomach and in the chest.
The victim survived to testify against him, corroborating video surveillance evidence as well as DNA evidence left at the scene.
The weapon used in the attack was not found until 2009, when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested Mendez’s son Anthony Mendez pursuant to a carjacking and high-speed vehicular chase into Ventura County during which shots were fired at officers.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell imposed upon the elder Mendez a 31-year sentence and two life sentences for attempted murder, attempted robbery with use of a firearm causing great bodily injury, commercial burglary, and parole violation weapons possession counts.
Should Alexander Mendez become a model inmate in order to serve the absolute minimum on his sentence, he will serve at least 65 years before becoming parole eligible.
