Teenager Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Carjacking-Murder

Fresno County Superior Court Judge John Vogt sentenced 17-year-old Bethany Clark to nine years in prison for her role in the carjacking-murder of her 20-year-old friend, Carlos Gonzalez. Clark was 15 years old when she lured Gonzalez to a central Fresno street corner, where two gang members shot and killed him in an attempt to steal his pickup. A jury had previously convicted Oscar Ballesteros, 22, and Anthony Orona, 21, of first-degree murder and sentenced them to life in prison without parole.

Key Takeaways:

• Bethany Clark, now 17, was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in the carjacking-murder of Carlos Gonzalez.
• Clark was 15 years old when she lured Gonzalez to a central Fresno street corner, where two gang members shot and killed him.
• A jury convicted Oscar Ballesteros, 22, and Anthony Orona, 21, of first-degree murder and sentenced them to life in prison without parole.
• Clark agreed to serve a nine-year prison term as part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office and testified against Ballesteros and Orona.
• Clark's attorney argued that she was a victim of circumstance and was subjected to "many evil influences" at a young age.
• Fresno County Superior Court Judge John Vogt said that if Clark had been tried, a jury likely would have convicted her of murder and she would have faced a life prison sentence.

Statistics:

• Clark was 15 years old when she lured Gonzalez to the central Fresno street corner where he was murdered.
• The murder occurred on February 17, 2007.
• A jury convicted Ballesteros and Orona of first-degree murder on May xyz (date not specified).
• Clark was sentenced to nine years in prison.
• Ballesteros and Orona were sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Sources:

• The Fresno Bee (California)
• McClatchy-Tribune Information Services