VENTURA, CA - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Steven Cortez (DOB 03/09/1994), of Santa Paula, was convicted of two counts of attempted murder in violation of Penal Code section 664/187(a) for a December 27, 2014, shooting in which he shot at two young males in the city of Fillmore, striking one of them. Cortez subsequently fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement several miles from the crime scene. The jury also found Cortez guilty of one count of street terrorism in violation of Penal Code section 186.22(a), and two counts of assault with a firearm in violation of Penal Code section 245(a)(2). Additionally, the jury found true special allegations that Cortez intentionally discharged a firearm during the commission of the crime, and that the crime was committed in association with a criminal street gang.

Sentencing is set for August 4, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 45 of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura. Cortez faces a maximum sentence of 51 years 4 months in prison.