South County Gang Members Sentenced for 2017 Robberies
Yesterday in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Viviano Maduena, age 20, of Porterville, and Angel Padilla-Maduena, age 19, of Terra Bella, were sentenced to 25 years and 29 years respectively in prison for a string of robberies in the south county in 2017.
On October 12, 2018, the men pleaded to six counts of robbery and admitted to being personally armed with a firearm during the commission of the robberies, and that the robberies were committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
Between October and December of 2017, the men committed six separate robberies at stores in Richgrove, Tipton, and Porterville. The Maduenas entered each store wearing black masks, black clothes, gloves, and carrying firearms. In each of the robberies, after employees and customers were ordered to the ground, Viviano Maduena kept control over the employees and customers while Padilla-Maduena retrieved the money. In two of the robberies, a third unidentified robber was present. The string of robberies came to an end when Padilla-Maduena ripped a glove during the robbery of a Richgrove store, resulting in a positive DNA match. On December 2, 2017, Porterville police officers retrieved masks, gloves, and stolen property at Viviano Maduena’s residence.
In a subsequent case, Viviano Maduena also pleaded to an additional count of robbery occurring on June 7, 2016, in the city of Porterville. He admitted to being personally armed with a firearm during the commission of the robbery, and that the robbery was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly of the Porterville Division and investigated by detectives from the Porterville Police Department and by Detective Justin Pipkin of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494