The men, Edgar Cardelas, Anastasio Flores, Celestino Guillermo and Gerardo Resendiz, were sentenced to 42, 23, 36 and 40 years in state prison, respectively.
On the night of the crime, May 29, 2005, the men ranged from 16 to 21 years old. The youngest, Resendiz, was tried as an adult. Prosecutors and the arresting officer -- Half Moon Bay Police Sgt. Mark Reed who responded alone past midnight to the remote crime scene - said that Resendiz had been the most brutal of the offenders.
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The men were all found guilty of gang rape. Charges of felony assault and intimidation of a witness were upheld as well. A kidnapping charge failed, thus averting the possibility of life sentences in the case, according to the deputy district attorney.
Two members of the Half Moon Bay Police department, Reed and Police Clerk Marie Hammerich, received chief's commendations for their work on the case and during the complicated and lengthy trial.
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