Final defendants take plea deal in Newman slaying

By Merrill Balassone
mbalassone@modbee.com

E-Mail

reprint or license

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

The last two defendants charged in connection with the death of Reuben "Joey" Neuman — who authorities believe was targeted by the Sureño gang members because he wore red sweat pants — were in Stanislaus County Superior Court this week after pleading guilty to assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury.

Francisco Javier Gomez, 25, and Alvaro Arellano, 24, each took plea deals to serve more than 17 years in prison. They also pled in a drive-by shooting case and on a host of other charges, according to the district attorney's office.

"There was a lot of work put into this case from the beginning," said Deputy District Attorney Marlisa Ferreira. "We feel that justice has been served now."

A man dubbed "Night Owl" by authorities, Cesar Melgoza Perez, was extradited from Mexico and sentenced to 58 years to life in prison in May in the slaying.

On July 10, 2004, Perez and five other Sureño gang members were heading to a party when they spotted Neuman, suspected he might be a Norteño, and decided to pick a fight.

The men surrounded Neuman, who was walking his bicycle on P Street in Newman, then punched and kicked him until he lay lifeless in a gutter.

Perez pulled out a .380-caliber Beretta and fired seven times as his friends ran back to their cars.

Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.