Gang Members Involved in Cop Shooting Laugh While Receiving Life Sentences

On Monday, two men who reputedly belonged to a California gang that saw police as “the enemy” and honored the murder of police officers as a badge of pride reportedly smiled and laughed as they were sentenced to life in prison for the 2015 shooting of a Merced police officer.

As the Merced Sun Star reported, Jaime Caudillo and Steven Rincon were convicted in late May, with the jury finding Caudillo guilty of shooting Merced Police Officer Ryan Rasmussen and Rincon guilty of serving as the getaway driver. Rasmussen lost the little finger on his right hand; he has been hired as an investigator with the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.

On February 28, 2015, when Rasmussen stopped their vehicle, Caudillo opened fire, hitting Rasmussen; Officers Brian Rinder and Joseph Opinski returned fire and hit Caudillo. Rincon fled with the car but crashed in an alley, then fled on foot, prompting a ten-hour search before he was found.

On Monday, Rasmussen read an impact statement, stating, “(Caudillo) stripped me of my career.” Rasmussen’s mother Judith commented that neither of the defendants showed remorse; Merced County Judge Carol Ash echoed the same perspective. When Judith Rasmussen stated of the defendants, “I pray that they ask God for forgiveness,” Rincon could be seen laughing.

Caudillo received 50 years and eight months to life; Rincon was sentenced to 80 years to life in prison as this was his third strike. The Merced Sun Star added. “Rincon already was sentenced this summer to more than 50 years to life in prison for the jailhouse murder of Aaron Bonilla, according to court records. Rincon and fellow gang members Reyes Carrillo and Alfonso Martinez attacked Bonilla for ‘a long period of time’ and killed him, authorities said.” (Read more from “Gang Members Involved in Cop Shooting Laugh While Receiving Life Sentences” HERE)

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