Two Visalia gang members can expect long stays in state prison after violent-crimes convictions aided by doorbell video footage.
A jury found Cesar Raya, 20, guilty of attempted murder, robbery, burglary, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm on Jan. 24.
Then, on Feb. 7, a jury convicted Raya’s partner in crime, Vincent Lopez-Prado, 22, of attempted voluntary manslaughter, and a variety of gun and drug charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, and both men face life in prison.
Doorbell Camera Identifies Raya
According to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Lopez-Prado and Raya entered the home of an Exeter couple and stole firearms and ammunition at about 4 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2017. But the residents woke up during the robbery, and the gang members fired twice, hitting the man in the arm. After pointing a gun at the woman, the pair fled.
However, detectives caught a break when neighbors of the victims provided their Ring doorbell camera footage of a prowler and Raya was identified, leading to his arrest.
CHP Nabs Lopez-Prado After Traffic Accident
Four days later, Visalia Police responded to a shots-fired call at an apartment complex. During a search, officers found the Exeter couple’s guns, ammunition, car keys, and house keys in an apartment rented by
Lopez-Prado. Police arrested him on Feb. 28, 2017, after a traffic accident.
CHP officers at the scene found a 9mm handgun with a 30-round magazine. Testing revealed gunshot residue on Lopez-Prado’s hand, and the gun matched shell casings from shots fired an hour earlier at a house in Visalia.
Cell Phone Data Helps Prosecutors
Later, cell phone data placed Lopez-Prado in Exeter at the time of the Feb. 23 crime.
Tulare County Deputy District Attorney Candice Moore is prosecuting the case.
