Riverside, CA: Man who killed 13-year-old in cemetery with screwdriver sentenced to 26 years

DESERT SUN WIRE SERVICES • NOVEMBER 19, 2010

RIVERSIDE - A man who stabbed his 13-year-old girlfriend to death with a screwdriver to impress members of a street gang, then remained on the lam for more than a decade, was sentenced today to 26 years to life in prison.

Crispin Solorio Garcia, now 32, was convicted in August of first-degree murder in the Feb. 12, 1996, slaying of Sophia Briseno.

Garcia's alleged accomplice, Francisco Ochoa, remains at large and is believed to be in hiding in Mexico.

During his sentencing hearing, the defendant read a statement, telling Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Molloy that he did "no harm" to the girl.

"It's appalling to me that he shows no remorse and would make such a claim after a jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," district attorney's spokesman John Hall said outside the courtroom.

Several of the victim's family members read letters to the court, but did not respond to Garcia's statement.

According to Deputy District Attorney Sarah Crowley, Garcia admitted under questioning that he had a plan to kill the teen -- whom he'd been dating for several months -- because he wanted to gain the approval of members of his older brother's gang, and was also afraid she might tell his other girlfriend about their relationship.

The victim had gone with Garcia and Ochoa to Laurel Cemetery in Murrieta, apparently to hang out and smoke marijuana, according to trial testimony.

After loitering for a few minutes, Garcia pulled out a screwdriver and, without warning, began stabbing Sophia, Crowley said.

The girl suffered 63 puncture wounds to the chest, throat, face, back and head. Ochoa allegedly took part in the attack after Garcia handed him a screwdriver.

Garcia's attorney, Whitney Ryan, argued the killing was not premeditated so did not warrant a first-degree murder conviction. He maintained it occurred during a fight fueled by alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine.

Garcia fled to Mexico, where he was located in 2007. He was extradited back to the United States in August 2008.