Cutler Gang Member Found Guilty of Murder

Late in the afternoon of September 24, 2018, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Judge Gary Paden presiding, a jury found Pedro Nunez, age 27, of Cutler, guilty of first-degree murder with the special circumstance that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang, along with special allegations that the principal used a gun and that the crime was an act of street terrorism. Nunez was also convicted of criminal street gang conspiracy.

On July 30, 2015, Nunez’s co-defendant, gang member Fernando Prado, shot and killed a 24-year-old man in front of his Orosi home. Nunez served as the getaway driver and was arrested on August 17, 2015.

Prado pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, gun, and gang crimes on August 10, 2017, and was sentenced to life in prison.

Nunez faces a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole at sentencing on October 22, 2018, in Superior Court.

The case was prosecuted by Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jamil Nushwat andinvestigated by 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