Two young men received lengthy prison sentences Monday for the killing of a 16-year-old Napa boy, as supporters of all the young men involved watched in tears.

Derrice Tray Lewis, 17, will spend 25 years to life in prison for serving the killing blows to Napa resident Jesus Tornero on Sept. 22, 2008.
Co-defendant Donovan Pierre, 24, was sentenced to 15 years to life for his role in the slaying, which occurred as the pair were robbing Tornero.

They also must pay $11,000 in restitution.
Pierre and Lewis attacked Tornero and beat him as he was walking home on the 2300 block of Louisa Street.

The two were looking for money to help Lewis' sister, who was Pierre's girlfriend, bail out of jail, Napa County Deputy District Attorney Brian Tong said.
They demanded that Tornero give them all he had, Tong said. He agreed, and handed over some marijuana.

Lewis flipped Tornero over and continued to search his pockets, where he found $10 and a cell phone, Tong said. He was angry Tornero lied to him, so he continued to beat him, Tong said.

While Pierre used his knee to hold Tornero down, Lewis dealt out the majority of the attack, Tong said.

Tornero died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center soon after, according to medical reports.

Lewis pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, while Pierre entered a no contest plea to second-degree murder.

Monday, members of the Tornero family spoke about how his death has affected them.

Teresa Tornero, Jesus Tornero's mom, told Napa County Superior Court Judge Ray Guadagni through a translator how the crime has torn their family apart.

"They not only ended my son's life, but they ended my life and our family's life," she said.

Her husband, Salvador Tornero, stood at her side, rubbing her back as she tearfully gave her statement.

Teresita Tornero, 22, said her brother had dreams of going to college.

"I really miss my brother," she said, sobbing. "My life is not the same without him."

Jesus Tornero grew up in Mexico and moved to the United States when he was about 10, Teresita Tornero said in an interview. She described him as a happy and ambitious person, who hoped to ultimately get a career in law enforcement.

His goal was to buy "a big, big house with lots of flowers" for their parents, she said.

The day of her brother's death, Teresita Tornero talked to him in the family's kitchen. Both of their birthdays were days away, and he told her how he didn't want a present. Instead, he wanted Teresita to take him to Madera to visit his girlfriend, whom he had been with for two years, she said.

Tornero had gone to meet friends and was coming home early when he was attacked, she said.

Since his death, there are no more holidays, no more parties, Teresa Tornero said through the translation of a relative.

"Life seems different," added Salvador Tornero. The loss of his son makes him feel ill.

Pierre's attorney, Michael Keeley, and a family member of one of the defendants declined to comment. The Register was unable to contact Deputy Public Defender Allison Wilensky, who represented Lewis.

Tong said he felt like the sentences for the two young men were just.

"Basically they robbed a 16-year-old of his life, so they got what they deserved," he said.

The Torneros disagree, saying it is a small price for their loss, Teresa Tornero said.

"They deserve that and much more, because my son's life was not worth $10 and a cell phone," she said. "It was worth much more than that."

Related Article(s): http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/10/20/news/local/doc4adcff75da93b593451513.txt

61 responses to this article...