El Rio Man Delays Plea in Teen’s Death
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A 24-year-old El Rio man appeared in a Ventura County courtroom Wednesday after being charged with murder, perjury and gang and weapons violations in the December 1999 slaying of a local high school football player.
Marcus Morales, who is serving a jail term for robbery, did not enter a plea during the arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court. He was ordered back June 12.
Morales, whom authorities describe as a gang member, is accused of shooting Frank Miramontez, 17, in December 1999 as the Rio Mesa High football player sat in his 1985 Toyota Celica.
Miramontez was shot twice execution style, and his car was set on fire. Prosecutors allege the killing was gang-related.
At a news conference this week, Sheriff Bob Brooks declined to reveal a motive for the shooting. He said the two men knew each other because they grew up in the same El Rio neighborhood.
Brooks said investigators spent more than 2,000 hours on the case and conducted nearly 100 interviews.
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