A Watsonville man convicted of fatally shooting his roommate with an assault-style rifle in 2023 was sentenced Monday to more than 75 years to life in state prison.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Denine Guy sentenced Hector Manuel Rocha on June 1 to 75 years to life for first-degree murder, plus an additional 15 years and four months for related firearm and assault convictions, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.
Rocha was convicted of the Aug. 7, 2023 killing of 42-year-old Victor Alamillo in the parking lot of an apartment complex on West Beach Street.
Prosecutors said Rocha shot Alamillo with an assault rifle before pointing the weapon at Alamillo’s girlfriend and fleeing the scene.
The following day, law enforcement officers located Rocha in an agricultural field near Pajaro. After a standoff that lasted several hours, Rocha surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.
Following a months-long trial, a Santa Cruz County jury found Rocha guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of an assault weapon. Rocha had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Jurors also rejected Rocha’s plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, finding that he was legally sane at the time of the killing.
According to prosecutors, Rocha had prior felony convictions for resisting law enforcement, attempted arson and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Watsonville Police Department, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations and the California Department of Justice.
Alamillo is survived by a large family, many of whom attended court proceedings throughout the case.
District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell said the sentence ensures Rocha will be held accountable for his actions.
“This sentence ensures that Rocha will be held accountable for his deliberate and deadly actions,” Rosell said in a statement. “We are grateful to the jury, law enforcement and prosecution team for their dedication to seeking justice.”
