Joy Ride Leads to 6-Month Sentence

VAN NUYS —  An 18th Street gang member was sentenced to six months in County Jail and two years’ probation after pleading no contest to charges of joy riding, according to authorities.

Fernando Gomez Mendoza, 27, was sentenced Wednesday on one count of driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, by Van Nuys Municipal Judge Alan Ellis, said Kenneth Tso, the deputy city attorney who handled the case.

Mendoza was also ordered to pay restitution to the owner of the 1994 Honda Accord, according to court documents. A hearing to determine the amount is scheduled for Feb. 24.

But Tso said Mendoza so far will have to pay at least a few hundred dollars because investigators determined the vehicle’s two air bags were removed, a key was jammed in the ignition and the interior of the car was sprayed with liquid to prevent the collection of fingerprints.

The car was reported stolen Jan. 16 in North Hollywood, Tso said. Police officers spotted the vehicle about midnight, speeding along Fair Avenue near Cantlay Street in Sun Valley.

As police chased him, Mendoza ran a red light at Sherman Way and Vineland Avenue--coming to a halt and running from the vehicle into backyards of several residences in the 10700 block of Sherman Place, according to authorities.

A police dog finally found Mendoza hiding nearby, Tso said.