Captured Fugitive Accused Of Murdering Teen Pleads Not Guilty To 2005 Murder
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 27-year-old former fugitive accused of murdering a San Gabriel teen in 2005 has pleaded not guilty to his murder.
Daniel Guerrero spent the last eight years on the run following the death of 17-year-old Ryan Dasalla, who was shot a block from Gabrielino High School in what investigators believe was a case of mistaken identity.
A grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday charges Guerrero with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the April 27, 2005 killing.
He also faces gang and gun allegations, according to City News Service.
Guerrero is accused of attacking Dasalla with two accomplices, his older brother, Gabriel, and a woman named Sarah Toledo.
Investigators say the group acted with the mistaken belief Dasalla was associated with a tagging crew whose members had beaten Guerrero's younger brother.
Gabriel Guerrero was convicted in August 2010 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced in October 2010 to 84 years to life in state prison.
Toledo was convicted of the same charges and sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison.
Guerrero avoided charges after fleeing to Mexico, and was found living in Tijuana under the alias "Joel Lopez" when he was caught, according to the U.S. Marshals Service, whose agents brought Guerrero back to the United States on Sunday.
Guerrero is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for September 11.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
RELATED STORY: Fugitive Accused Of Murdering Teen Caught In Mexico After 8 Years On The Run
