From the archives

One of three gangmembers charged with murdering a 24-year-old San Mateo man after mistaking his work uniform for rival gang colors was sentenced the week of July 8, 2006 to 11 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

Miguel Adolfo Hernandez, 20, also admitted being a gang member, the use of a firearm and committing a serious felony as part of the plea agreement reached May 12, 2006.

According to the prosecution, the defendants are Norteño members who shot Meza Nov. 14, 2004 after mistaking his restaurant work uniform for rival gang clothing. Meza stopped at a liquor store for a phone card after work, according to his wife, and Ponce allegedly shot him three times after a brief exchange of words. The gunfire propelled Meza’s vehicle into a pole and the suspects fled.

Former mayor gets 45 days jail

Former San Carlos Mayor Mike King was sentenced the week of July 8, 2006 to 45 days in jail for defrauding the South County Fire Authority of more than $13,000 to repay a campaign debt but a judge stayed the term pending an appeal.

King dropped his head slightly when Judge Barbara Mallach said she felt jail was appropriate but otherwise appeared stoic during the sentencing hearing.

After denying a defense request to reduce King’s two felony convictions to misdemeanors, Mallach imposed two concurrent 45 day sentences — half that recommended by the probation report — which could be served through the Sheriff’s Work Program.

After a two-week trial, a jury convicted King April 18 of defrauding the South County Fire Authority of $13,300 to pay Peg Collier for political consulting work.

Teen arraigned in royals’ death

The 18-year-old East Palo Alto woman accused of causing the fatal crash that claimed two members of the Tongan royal family is a "lovely” former honor roll student who is apologetic and emotional, according to the defense attorney who entered a not guilty plea on her behalf the week of July 8, 2006 to three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

Calling the crash an "unfathomable tragedy,” defense attorney Randy Moore nonetheless said he believed his client, Edith Delgado, was not guilty of the charges.

Prince Tu’ipelehake, 55, and his wife Princess Kaimana, 45, were in a red Ford Explorer when another car collided with it on northbound Highway 101 near Marsh Road in Menlo Park. Tu’ipelehake was the nephew of 88-year-old King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV who maintained a home in Hillsborough. The couple’s driver, Vinisia Hefa, 36, of East Palo Alto, was also killed during the crash.

Delgado was allegedly driving a white 1998 Ford Mustang at a fast, reckless speed on northbound Highway 101 north of Willow Road. When she came up behind another vehicle and attempted to pass it on the right, she struck the driver’s side of a red 1998 Ford Explorer, causing its driver to lose control.

South City robbery victim dies of heart attack

A 75-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack after chasing the man who allegedly swiped her purse from a South San Francisco restaurant died the week of July 8, 2006 shortly before the accused man’s arraignment.

Jeanette Tyson, 75, of South San Francisco had a heart attack when she tried to chase the man who stole her purse from a table at McDonald’s on El Camino Real.

Trenal Clark, 18, of Daly City was arrested and faced commercial robbery charges that carry a maximum of three years in prison.

From the archives highlights stories originally printed five years ago this week. It appears in the Thursday edition of the Daily Journal.