Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder During Violent Orosi Home Invasion
Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden sentenced three Tulare County gang members to 25 years-to-life in prison for a violent 2014 home invasion in Orosi that left multiple persons wounded and one dead.
On August 22, 2018, Rolando Magana, 23, Edgar Picazo, 22, and Francisco Padilla, 26, each pleaded to one count of premediated first-degree murder with the special allegation of use of a firearm and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and four counts of willful and deliberate premeditated attempted murder with the special allegation of use of a firearm and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
In separate cases, Magana pleaded to accessory after the fact with the special allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang for a 2017 incident at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. Padilla pleaded to possessing a weapon at the facility in 2017. Picazo pleaded to an additional count of attempted murder for an incident that occurred in custody in 2017.
Around 5 am in the morning on May 27, 2014, the defendants and another gang member approached a home in Orosi to commit an armed home invasion. A shootout ensued between the resident, who was trying to protect his younger siblings, and the gang members. One gang member was killed in the shootout, while others sustained injuries. The three surviving gang members quickly drove to Kaweah Delta Hospital where Picazo and Padilla carried a wounded Magana into the emergency room before fleeing. The incident was captured on hospital surveillance cameras.
Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies were able to use video of the license plate to track down the defendants. Picazo fled to Mexico, but surrendered himself to law enforcement in April of 2016.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494