Richmond resident Robert Ortiz was sentenced in Contra Costa County Superior Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to charges of rape in concert, oral copulation in concert at the direction of a criminal street gang and carjacking, according to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Smith.
According to Smith, Ortiz, who was then 15 years old, forcibly orally copulated a Richmond woman, helped kidnap her in her own car and stood by as she was raped and taunted about her sexual orientation by Sureno gang member Humberto Salvador the night of Dec. 13, 2008.
The prosecutor said Ortiz took part in the attack in order to further his chances of being accepted into the gang and followed the direction of Salvador, who was the ringleader in the gang rape and kidnapping.
Salvador was convicted last month on a slew of charges and faces life in prison.
Another co-defendant, 20-year-old Darrell Hodges, was sentenced last month to 24 years in prison for his role in the attack.
The only co-defendant who prosecutors say did not sexually assault the victim, 26-year-old Josue Gonzalez, testified against Salvador in court and is awaiting sentencing on carjacking and robbery convictions.
