Porterville Gang Murderer Sentenced to Life without the Possibility of Parole

Today at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court sentenced Steven Hernandez, age 25, to life without the possibility of parole for gang murder.

On April 21, 2021, Hernandez pleaded to all charges filed against him by the District Attorney: first-degree murder with the special circumstances that crime was committed for the benefit of a gang, and that the murder was of a witness to an unrelated crime.

On June 16, 2014, Hernandez shot and killed Matthew Eredia, age 18, on the Tule River Reservation because he believed Matthew had witnessed a crime that had occurred in 2013. Following the murder Hernandez fled to Mexico, but was returned to the United States and arrested at the border by law enforcement for prosecution in July of 2015.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Stacy Plantier and was investigated 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