Man Convicted For Killing Lake Elsinore Victim With Hammer

A 20-year-old man who robbed and fatally beat with a hammer an acquaintance from whom he bought marijuana was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and other charges.

Tony Martinez Carrera could face life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Helios Hernandez on Aug. 3.

Jurors in the case deliberated part of Monday and all of today before finding Carrera guilty of the murder count, as well as robbery and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery in the May 2009 slaying of 19-year-old Daniel Coronado.

Carrera's co-defendant, Rocky Padilla, 20, was convicted separately of the same charges on April 18 and sentenced last month to life in prison without parole.

According to a trial brief filed by Deputy District Attorney John Aki, Carrera and Coronado were casual acquaintances, with the latter occasionally selling the defendant marijuana.

Carrera plotted to rob the victim, and on May 8, 2009, arranged to meet him at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Corona.

According to court papers, Carrera enlisted the help of Padilla, who owed him $200. The defendants convinced Coronado to join them for an all-night party in Moreno Valley, and the three men left the restaurant together in Carrera's car, according to sheriff's investigators.

Along the way, Padilla, seated in the back of the vehicle, slipped a rope around Coronado's neck and started strangling him, prosecutors said.

"Both defendants got Coronado out of the car, and then Padilla struck Coronado with a hammer at least five times.'' according to the trial brief, which stated that the men took turns striking the victim with the hammer.

On May 10 -- Mother's Day -- Coronado's mother, Jeanne Graves, reported him missing. Investigators reviewed the victim's cell phone log and identified Carrera as one of the last people to communicate with him, the brief stated.

Surveillance video from the Chick-fil-A confirmed that Coronado, Carrera and Padilla were there together.

On May 16, 2009, Carrera was arrested and led investigators to the victim's remains, which had been exposed to high temperatures for a week, making identification difficult, according to the brief.

After a detailed forensic exam, the young man was positively identified.

An autopsy revealed he had been struck in the head numerous times with both the round and claw ends of a hammer.

Padilla was located a day later in Santa Ana and arrested while trying to flee from a police canine unit.

Coronado's silver 1996 Honda Civic was located in the vicinity. It had been set ablaze.

Padilla confessed to taking part in the attack, but told detectives that he had been led to believe they were only going to rob the victim. --City News Service