Ventura County District Attorney’s Office prosecutors said Tuesday that Steven Cortez, 21, was convicted in Superior Court of two counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of two Fillmore men on December 27, 2014.
The drive-by shooting occurred at about 9:35 p.m. in Fillmore; the victim told police he was walking with his brother in the area of 4th and B streets when they were confronted by suspects in a vehicle who fired on them. Once shots were fired the brothers ran from the area.
One man was struck by a bullet and received a non-life threatening wound. He was treated at the hospital for his injury.
Shortly after the shooting, the driver of the vehicle involved in the shooting lost control and crashed in the area of Old Telegraph Road and Highway 126.
When responding officers found that the vehicle had been reported stolen
in Ventura the three occupants were arrested and the investigation linked the detainees to the earlier incident.
The three occupants including Cortez were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, possessing a stolen vehicle and street terrorism. Since his arrest Cortez has remained in jail on bail that was initially set at $1 million.
In addition to attempted murder Cortez was also found guilty of street terrorism and assault with a firearm. Prosecutors said the jury also found Cortez — a documented gang member known to area police — guilty of committing a crime in association with a criminal street gang.
Cortez is scheduled for sentencing August 4. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 51 years and four months in prison.