Long Beach : Youth Sentenced for Night Firebombing of Family

A suspected gang member accused of firebombing a bedroom where three teen-age girls slept was sentenced this week to 25 years to life in prison.

Ruben Hernandez, 18, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an explosive device and three counts of arson. He was one of four alleged gang members accused of tossing bottles filled with gasoline into a house on the 3000 block of Gale Avenue on June 18.

The attack was aimed at a rival gang member who had lived in the house, authorities said. But their target had moved out, and Salvador Hernandez, his wife and six children had moved in. The firebombing severely burned Angelica, Adriana and Rocio Hernandez.

The convicted man was found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder. Deputy Public Defender Carl Kandel said he argued that the attack was in retaliation for the murder of one of the defendants’ friends by a rival gang, but it was not aimed at the Hernandez family. “They weren’t trying to kill the girls,” Kandel said Wednesday.

Two other defendants, Joseph Miranda, 18, and a 17-year-old male, pleaded guilty last month to arson, voluntary manslaughter and use of an explosive device. Miranda was sentenced to 29 years and four months in prison. The 17-year-old will be sentenced March 23.

A fourth defendant, Daniel Almanza, 18, is awaiting trial.