Woman Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison in Huntington Park Carjacking

NORWALK, CA - A young woman was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for her part in a 2012 fatal carjacking in which the victim was run over with his own truck after refusing to hand over his paycheck.

Misty Ruiz, 22, of Los Angeles, pleaded no contest last October to a felony count of carjacking and admitted an allegation of use of a deadly weapon -- a car -- during the commission of the crime.

Prosecutors said Ruiz and 25-year-old co-defendant Brian Mendez met the victim, Efrian Perez-Ortiz, at a liquor store on Jan. 13, 2012, and drank alcohol in his truck. Then they decided to go together in Perez-Ortiz's truck to his house in Huntington Park to pick up some things.

When Perez-Ortiz returned to the vehicle, Ruiz propositioned him, but he refused to hand over his money and got out of the vehicle after Mendez hit him, according to Deputy District Attorney Robert Villa.

The pair beat the victim and then Mendez ran over Perez-Ortiz with the victim's truck, crushing the 56-year-old man, according to the prosecutor.

Mendez was linked to the attack through DNA from a hat left at the scene. He confessed to the killing and revealed Ruiz's involvement when authorities went to interview him, the prosecutor said.

Mendez was convicted earlier this month of murder, attempted second- degree robbery and carjacking. Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a robbery and carjacking.

He is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set for April 6.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock