Shooter gets life without parole

When Joshua Blount shot five men in Costa Mesa two years ago, he hurt two families: a victim’s family, and his own, who still believes he’s innocent, an Orange County judge said at his sentencing Friday.

“There are few things that are more cowardly than shooting a man in the back. And in this case, five men were shot in the back over an insult. Mr. Blount, I don’t know what to say to you,” Judge Daniel McNerney said as Blount, donning shackles, an orange jail jumpsuit and a newly grown mustache, awaited his sentence.

McNerney continued: “I wish you were a braver man. I wish you were braver in that situation in the alley that night. I wish you were braver, that you had more courage in being honest with your own family. This has broken your mother’s heart. And it will continue to break her heart because now she has to think about you sitting in prison believing you were not responsible for this.”

Blount, 24, of Compton, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole Friday for fatally shooting 23-year-old Israel Maciel of Costa Mesa and wounding four of his friends in an Aug. 2, 2006, drive-by shooting. The attack, in an alley in the 1300 block of Baker Street, came after one of Maciel’s friends insulted one of Blount’s female friends.

According to prosecutors, a day earlier, some of Maciel’s friends got in a fight with some of Blount’s friends who live in the same Costa Mesa neighborhood. The tension continued through the next day, when a girl mistakenly approached Maciel’s friends in the Baker Street alley looking for Blount. They spit on her and insulted Blount, prosecutors said.

When Blount got word of this, he confronted the group and was rebuked. Hours later, he returned behind the wheel of a car and with a gun. Two other friends were riding with him. Without saying a word, Blount rolled down the driver’s side window and unleashed 10 rounds from a 9 mm Glock handgun at the men, which included Maciel. While four others were wounded, only Maciel’s wounds proved fatal.

Friday, Maciel’s family got to tell Blount how he affected their family and plead with the judge for the maximum life sentence.

“It’s been really hard for me,” Mike Herrera, Maciel’s 17-year-old brother, told the judge. “Even though I know he’s not with me or any of my family, I know he’ll be proud of me and all I’ve succeeded [in].”

Maciel’s family addressed Blount directly only once, instead using the opportunity to humanize Maciel for the judge.

“Israel was the first in our family to receive a high school diploma. I just wonder about the things he could accomplish if he were alive today,” said Bernice Contreras, Maciel’s cousin. “Maybe sometime, Joshua Blount will know how much pain and suffering he has caused our family.”

Blount’s family, for their part, didn’t deny the pain Maciel’s family has endured. To them, however, the justice system has failed, and the wrong man is behind bars.

“I’m proud to be [Blount’s] mother because he is a good son with a big heart,” Angelica Blount told the judge before the sentencing through an interpreter. “I’m truly sorry for what happened to the Maciel family. But in my heart, I’m sure my son is innocent. I know he had nothing to do with this and God knows about it.”

Luis Arenas also blamed a failed system for his cousin’s conviction.

“I know my cousin, and I know he didn’t do it,” Arenas said outside the courtroom after the sentencing. “He doesn’t have the guts to do something like that. He wouldn’t do that to his worst enemy.”

The defense motioned for a new trial before the sentencing, arguing that prosecutors misrepresented one of their witness’ testimony.

Anthony Dispensa, who was also charged for the murder, testified that he was in the car with Blount, but thought they were only going to fight. Blount’s defending attorney told the judge that while there was no written deal that Dispensa’s charges would be dropped in exchange for testimony, it was implied and would have cast doubt on his testimony for jurors. Dispensa testified he hoped for leniency, but was not promised any.

Two days after Blount was convicted, all charges against Dispensa were dropped.

Maciel’s mother, Augustina Mendoza, harbors little anger toward Blount, she said in court through an interpreter.

“I thank God for giving me a humble heart and the humility. That’s why I don’t feel any hate inside me against you,” she told Blount. “I’m going to leave all that in the hands of God … He will judge each of us. And He will judge you, young man.”

EXCERPTS FROM JOSHUA BLOUNT’S SENTENCING

“The only pain you can turn off right now is that of your family. You can’t bring back Israel, you can’t heal the wounds of all the people you shot that night. The only thing you can do to make this right is be honest with yourself and your family. That’s on you. That’s on you. I hope sometime you find the courage to ease your mother’s pain and tell her the truth.”

Judge Daniel McNerney

“They sent an innocent person to prison. The real killer is outside. I believe in God, and I wait for justice.”

Angelica Blount

Joshua’s mother

“I cannot find how to express in words the way I can compare the great pain for the loss of my son Israel. I’m always depressed. I think I’ll remain like this for the rest of my life until God allows me to leave.”

Augustina Mendoza

Maciel’s mother

“Israel was not the kind of person who could hurt anyone. He was a good person with a big heart.”

Bernice Contreras

Maciel’s cousin

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.