July 7, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Two Mexican Nationals Sentenced to Prison in Death of Coast Guard Officer

Coast Guard
Members of the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard conduct a three-round volley at the memorial service for Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne at Reservation Point, San Pedro, Calif., Dec. 8, 2012. Horne, the executive petty officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, was killed while conducting maritime law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island Dec. 2, 2012. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Seth Johnson)

Two Mexican nationals were sentenced on May 12 to federal prison for their roles in the 2012 death of a Marina del Rey-based U.S. Coast Guard chief petty officer, who was thrown into the ocean when the cutter he was aboard was rammed by a smuggling boat near the Channel Islands.

U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess sentenced Jose Meija-Leyva, the panga’s captain, to life in federal prison, and helper Manuel Beltran-Higuera got a 10-year term.

Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, a 34-year-old Redondo Beach resident, was the first Coast Guard officer to be murdered while on duty since 1927.

“The person killed was kind, generous and loving,” Rachel Horne, the officer’s widow, told the courtroom, which was packed with dozens of uniformed Coast Guard personnel.

The 14-year Coast Guard veteran left behind two toddler sons and a pregnant wife who gave birth to a third boy 10 weeks after her husband’s death.

“Words cannot express our sorrow and emptiness,” the woman said as a photo of her husband and two of their sons were shown to the tearful audience.

Horne was struck in the head on Dec. 2, 2012, by a boat propeller when he was thrown into the water. Another USCG member suffered a non-life-threatening knee laceration.

He and the other injured Coast Guard member were assigned to the USCG Cutter Halibut, based in Marina del Rey.

The Halibut was rammed by Meija-Leyva’s panga traveling at a high rate of speed. Feess said Meija-Leyva smashed into the cutter in hopes of disabling it so the panga could flee.

Customs and Border Patrol and Coast Guard ships were able to chase the panga after the ramming and arrested the two Ensenada-based suspects.

The USCG Cutter Halibut had been tracking a smuggling boat off Santa Cruz Island, one of a cluster of three Channel Islands sitting off the Ventura County coast, about 30 miles west of Malibu.

A Coast Guard patrol plane had spotted the panga and another boat as it headed toward the Channel Islands without lights about 1 a.m. The Halibut was sent to Santa Cruz Island, and had arrested two people from one boat.

The Halibut crew lowered a small, inflatable chase boat into the water, and the small federal craft activated its blue lights and siren. At that point, Meija-Leyva changed direction and drove into the small boat.

According to federal prosecutors, a Coast Guard officer on the cutter fired several shots at the panga boat while another USCG member tried to steer the federal vessel out of the smugglers’ path.

Horne and the other Coast Guard member were thrown into the water and were immediately picked up by another federal boat. Horne was taken roughly 15 to 20 miles to the nearest dock, at Port Hueneme, where he was pronounced dead.

The murder of a federal officer is “one of the most serious offenses that can come before this court,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Max B. Shiner said, adding that Meija-Leyva continued to resist arrest “even when he had a gun pointed at his face.”

Meija-Leyva, 42, was convicted at trial in February of second-degree murder, two counts of failure to heave to — an order to stop a vessel so a federal law enforcement officer may board — and four counts of assaulting federal officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon.

Manuel Beltran-Higuera, 45, also was convicted in the two counts of failure to heave to — as an accessory after the fact in one count and as an aider and abettor in the second count — and in the four counts of assault, as an accessory after the fact.

Beltran-Higuera told the court through his attorney that he was “deeply ashamed” of his actions.

His co-defendant, though, said he was not responsible for Horne’s death. Meija-Leyva said a vessel that didn’t belong to him hit and killed the officer.

Feess, however, rejected what he called the “mystery boat” defense, telling the defendant that there was “no doubt whose boat killed this man.”

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...