Man convicted for role in gang killing

A Costa Mesa man could possibly be sentenced to life without parole in August for his part in killing a fellow gang member to steal his car and sell it for parts, prosecutors said.

Aurelio Fidencio Saldivar, 30, was convicted of first-degree murder during a robbery, for the benefit of a street gang, and street terrorism Wednesday for shooting Raffi Yessayan, a blind, Armenian albino gang member, in the head in June 2006.

Prosecutors claim Saldivar and two fellow gang members, Marco Charcas-Fernandez, 23, and Ruben Oliveros, 28, both of Santa Ana, were driving with Yessayan in June 2006 when Oliveros got into an argument with Yessayan. The men parked the car and Oliveros shot Yessayan in the head from the back seat. Yessayan’s friends typically drove him around in his black Nissan sedan with custom rims.

After Oliveros shot Yessayan, Saldivar picked up the gun and shot him as well, then the men ditched the body in the parking lot. His body was found the next morning.

Oliveros was convicted and is scheduled to be sentenced in October. Charcas-Fernandez is scheduled to go to trial next month.

Prosecutors said the men dismantled the car with the help of friends and hid the gun. Saldivar is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28 in Santa Ana’s Central Justice Center.

— Joseph Serna