Advertisement

O.C. homeless man convicted of killing man with plank

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

A homeless man accused of killing another transient by hitting him on the head with a wooden plank was convicted of murder Wednesday, Orange County prosecutors said.

Sergio Camacho Gonzalez, 39, faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 5.

Advertisement

Prosecutors said Gonzalez got into an argument at a Fullerton liquor store with Andrew Petrusiak, 56, in September 2010. He accused Petrusiak of stealing his wallet. Shortly after 9 p.m. the same night, prosecutors said Gonzalez went to Petrusiak’s campsite behind a Fullerton business complex and struck Petrusiak in the back of the head with a plank of wood.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez was captured by video surveillance entering the site and then leaving four minutes later.

Two days later, a friend of Petrusiak went to visit him at the campsite, where he discovered the body and called police. Prosecutors said Gonzalez was identified by witnesses of the argument at the liquor store and again on the video surveillance at the business complex. He was arrested March 23, 2011, by Fullerton police.

ALSO:

Dorner manhunt: Hundreds at funeral for Riverside officer

Dorner manhunt: Incendiary tear gas reportedly used on cabin 170 firefighters knock down Valley Village apartment complex fire

Advertisement

-- Rick Rojas in Orange County

Advertisement