Man sentenced in 1998 Turlock homicide

MODESTO -- A 37-year-old man has been convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison for shooting to death a 19-year-old woman 14 years ago during a dispute over stolen cocaine taken from the Turlock home of an alleged drug dealer.

During a Feb. 9 hearing, Rene Mendosa pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Turlock resident Alma Peralta, the Stanislaus County district attorney’s office announced this week.

The defendant’s alleged accomplice, Jose Villa, remains a fugitive. Deputy District Attorney Brad Nix prosecuted the case.

The cocaine was stolen shortly after midnight June 2, 1998. Peralta and three male friends, including a 16-year-old boy, went to Villa’s home.

Peralta and the others knew Villa was out and his girlfriend was at the home 700 block of Flower Street. Prosecutors said Villa was Peralta’s drug dealer.

At the home, Peralta and her friends committed a strong-arm robbery, stealing some of Villa’s cocaine from his girlfriend, according to the district attorney’s office.

Peralta and her friends then drove to a home in the 600 block of Angelus Street, where they used the cocaine.

About 3 a.m., Villa and Mendosa arrived at the Angelus Street home. Prosecutors said Mendosa had a shotgun and Villa had a handgun tucked inside his waistband.

Villa went into the home and argued with Peralta. The home’s resident told them to leave, so Peralta, the teenage boy and Villa went outside.

The argument continued outside with Villa and Mendosa demanding Peralta to return the drugs. Prosecutors said Mendosa threatened Peralta, before Mendosa fired the shotgun four times.

Peralta was hit three times by gunfire and was pronounced dead at the scene. The teenage boy was shot in the back and arm, but survived his injuries.

Turlock police investigators identified the suspects in the shooting as Mendosa and Villa, who left the state. In June 2010 — 12 years after the shooting — Mendosa was arrested when he attempted to enter Texas from Mexico.

Prosecutors said an arrest warrant remains for Villa, who has not been found by authorities.