Politics & Government
2nd Highland Park Murder Conviction in as Many Days
Gustavo Alvarez and 41-year-old Joseph Sepulveda were found guilty of the July 5, 2003, shotgun shooting Virginia Alvarez outside a Highland Park restaurant.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury on Thursday convicted 47-year-old Gustavo Alvarez for contracting the 2003 murder of his wife, according to City News Service.
Alvarez and 41-year-old Joseph Sepulveda were found guilty of the July 5, 2003, shotgun shooting of Virginia Alvarez outside a Highland Park restaurant.
According to City New Service, the jury found Alvarez guility of "murder for financial gain and murder by means of lying in wait."
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Sepulveda was found guilty of actually discharging the shotgun that killed Alvarez's wife.
City News Service reported that Alvarez and his wife were in the midst of a bitter divorce and custody battle, but had seemingly reconciled for months prior to the shooting.
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Alvarez and Sepulveda are facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set for Oct. 27 before Judge Robert J. Perry. Prosecutors had decided earlier not to seek the death penalty.
The conviction of Alvarez and Sepulveda follows the Wednesday conviction of Highland Park man Manuel "Lil' Bad Boy" Penaloza for a .
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