Life sentence for drug deal execution

Despite hours of glowing descriptions and pleas for second chances by Campos' loved ones, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for helping murder four others execution-style in a San Bruno apartment when he was only 17 years old.

"This is a case of unspeakable evil," said Judge Stephen Hall before handing down the sentence. It was beyond the comprehension of a judge sitting on the bench, he said, to comprehend how somebody could put two bullets into the heads of three bound men and help cut down a fourth "for no real purpose."

The sentence comes two months after Campos, now 21, was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, one count of residential burglary and one count of attempted robbery along with miscellaneous firearms charges. The sentence also comes more than three years after the brutal Jan. 11, 2002 deaths of Javier Vaca, 21, Jose Alberto Munoz-Lopez, 21, Emilio Alba-Flores, 20, and Roberto Ramos-Guerra, 18.

None of the victims' families were in court but submitted statements to the court.

Hall dismissed the request by defense attorney David Goldstein to give his client a 45 years to life sentence with the possibility of parole sometime in his 60s.

Despite Goldstein's argument Campos was only a pawn in the game of ringleader Jorge "Chico" Hernandez, Hall said he knew what he was doing by driving to the Evergreen Ridge apartment with "a clear plan of evil."

A different version of a killer

Those who love Campos and saw him at church, at home and in day-to-day life before his arrest two years ago don't see the same cold and callous person as Hall and prosecutor Al Giannini.

"He looks like a tough kid but really underneath it all he has a bit heart," said Michael Kogan, a former attorney who coached Campos in handball as a middle-schooler.

Over and over again, the 17 witnesses testifying yesterday used the same descriptions for Campos — respectful, gentlemanly, energetic, joyful, helpful. Supporters included cousins, brothers, an uncle, his minister, fellow church-goers and coaches. His parents maintained Campos' innocence while fighting back tears.

"To me he is innocent and if he was brought in to this he deserves a second chance ... . A lot of time children do make mistakes. We need God to take control of him and give him another chance," Rose Icela Campos said.

Others simply asked for leniency.

"There's not a single soul on this earth that's perfect ... everyone deserves a second chance," said Miguel Campos, his 13-year-old brother.

Roberto Campos, 16, told the court his older brother was a great example. However, he admitted under cross-examination that he destroyed an incriminating note about the robbery plan at his brother's urging.

Execution-style killing

Campos and co-defendant Alfredo Valenzuela were reportedly drug runners for Jorge "Chico" Hernandez. After fighting with Vaca over a drug debt, Hernandez enlisted Valenzuela, Campos and Lazaro Perez to drive from Los Angeles to San Bruno to collect. By the end of their visit to Vaca at the Evergreen Ridge Apartments, the four victims were dead and $250,000 worth of cocaine was left hidden in the kitchen.

Three of the four victims were found with their hands bound behind their backs and bullets in their brains. Alba-Flores was not shot in the head but was shot several times with different guns. Authorities theorized he was able to free himself from a zip-tie and was trying to flee with a "momentary glimmer of hope," Hall said.

At least four separate guns were used in the crimes but none were ever found, making the physical evidence tying the suspects to the crime tenuous.

The four suspects reportedly drove back to Southern California and parted company. Campos and Valenzuela were arrested within the month after police found Hernandez's cell phone at the crime scene but the other two escaped. Perez remains at large and Hernandez was fatally shot in Mexico earlier this year.

During a police interview following his arrest, Campos, then 17, admitted shooting Alba-Flores when the victim rushed at him but claimed the murders were not pre-meditated acts. Police found a bag of plastic zip-ties in Campos' Cadillac and ballistic tests showed that Campos may have shot up to three of the victims.

In December 2004, an eight-man, four-woman jury convicted Campos of all charges. The previous September, Valenzuela received the same outcome although he steadfastly maintained he never pulled a trigger. Valenzuela is awaiting sentencing on the same conviction in mid-March. He remains in custody on no-bail status while awaiting sentencing.

Campos smiled often during Friday's hearing as his supporters recalled fond memories of him. He sat expressionless while sentenced. Wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles, Campos leaned back in his chair and stared straight ahead. He didn't look at his family as deputies walked him out of the courtroom.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.