William White, 38, of Antioch, and Victor Hernandez, 27, of Modesto, will spend the rest of their lives in prison after being sentenced today for their roles in the death of Orlando Yepez, 21, of Modesto, announced Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall, who prosecuted the case.
White was sentenced to 223 years-life, and Hernandez was sentenced 95 years and four months-life this morning by Merced County Superior Court Judge Ronald Hanson. Both men will be sent to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to serve their sentences.
Both men were convicted of first degree murder and two counts of home invasion robbery, with all gun enhancements found to be true back in August of this year. White was also found guilty of one count of burglary that Hernandez was not charged with.
In the early morning hours of August 1, 2014, White, Hernandez, Yepez, and two other men went to Juan Carlos Alvarez’s house with the intent to commit a robbery. During the commission of the robbery Hernandez pulled a gun on Alvarez, and during the struggle for control over the gun, Yepez was fatally shot.
It was found that Hernandez and White were responsible for Yepez’s death because it occurred during the commission of the felony robbery they were attempting to commit, in Alvarez’s home.
“This is the just and appropriate sentence for these two individuals who committed murder in the course of a home-invasion robbery, and did so deliberately with no regard for human life,” said Wall. “The community of Hilmar and the County of Merced are safer and more secure because of this conviction and sentence,” he added.