Gangmember imprisoned for crime spree

A 20-year-old Norteño gangmember accused of participating in a multi-city crime spree that included the shooting of a convenience store clerk and the stabbing of a cab driver was sentenced to three years prison for felony robbery and conspiracy.

Daniel Alejandro Bustos-Mendez, of Menlo Park, also admitted gang allegations as part of the negotiated settlement. He must register as a gang offender and pay restitution as ordered at a May 16 hearing. He receives credit of 692 days against his three-year term.

Another, Robert John Herrera, 19, of Pacifica, pleaded no contest to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, robbery and gang allegations. He was sentenced to 20 years prison.

Two other co-defendants — Andrew Jarome Marquez, 19, and Ronald Resendez, 18, of Oakland — are scheduled for jury trial in July on charges of attempted premeditated murder, attempted robbery, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted carjacking and vehicle theft. They have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors believe Resendez, who is also charged with personally using a firearm, was the ringleader and shooter in the string of crimes while Herrera is fingered as the driver and lookout.

According to authorities, the four men robbed a Shell gas station on Hickey Boulevard in Pacifica on Aug. 20, 2010. Herrera drove the group in a Toyota stolen from Sunnyvale and acted as lookout while the others went inside. When the clerk was slow opening the register, Resendez allegedly shot him four times in the legs before the group fled without taking any cash. The group then headed to South San Francisco where they allegedly robbed at gunpoint a 7-Eleven store on Callan Boulevard, using the same method of Herrera as lookout. In Colma, the group allegedly approached a taxi driver wanting to take the cab as a new vehicle. One person reportedly tried to stab the driver in the neck but hit his hand when he put it up in defense.

They reportedly fled again and were later spotted by Daly City police who recognized the vehicle from reports of the earlier incidents and of a stolen car from Sunnyvale. The group jumped from the car and police later discovered the handgun about 20 yards away and Herrera in the backyard of a nearby residence.