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Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday January 12, 2018 in the 290th State District court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Martinez was convicted of shooting Cerna and leaving his body in a ditch. Jurors on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, sentenced him to 99 years.
lessDefendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday January 12, 2018 in the 290th State District court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Martinez was convicted of shooting Cerna and
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A picture of murder victim Steven Cerna is projected Friday January 12, 2018 in the 290th State District during the murder trial of Robert Martinez. Martinez was convicted of murdering Cerna in 2015 and on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, sentenced him to 99 years.
lessA picture of murder victim Steven Cerna is projected Friday January 12, 2018 in the 290th State District during the murder trial of Robert Martinez. Martinez was convicted of murdering Cerna in 2015 and on
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Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) sits Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (right) walks Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Defendant Robert Martinez (right) walks Friday in the 290th State District Court shortly before being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defendant Robert Martinez (left) stands with his defense attorney Leland McRae (right) on Friday in the 290th State District Court while being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for Tuesday.
lessDefendant Robert Martinez (left) stands with his defense attorney Leland McRae (right) on Friday in the 290th State District Court while being convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015. Punishment is set for
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People console each other Friday in the 290th State District Court after defendant Robert Martinez was convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
People console each other Friday in the 290th State District Court after defendant Robert Martinez was convicted of murdering Steven Cerna in 2015.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Patricia Cerna speaks Friday in the 290th State District Court about her son Steven Cerna, who was murdered in 2015. Robert Martinez was found guilty of shooting and killing Cerna and will be sentenced Tuesday.
Patricia Cerna speaks Friday in the 290th State District Court about her son Steven Cerna, who was murdered in 2015. Robert Martinez was found guilty of shooting and killing Cerna and will be sentenced Tuesday.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Defense attorney Leland McRae (right) speaks to the jury Friday in the 290th State District Court during the murder trial of his client, Robert Martinez.
Defense attorney Leland McRae (right) speaks to the jury Friday in the 290th State District Court during the murder trial of his client, Robert Martinez.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
Prosecuting attorney Melissa Saenz speaks to the jury Friday in the 290th State District Court during the murder trial of Robert Martinez.
Prosecuting attorney Melissa Saenz speaks to the jury Friday in the 290th State District Court during the murder trial of Robert Martinez.
Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio man gets 99 years for 2015 ‘Hell’s Gate’ killing
A San Antonio man found guilty last week in the 2015 fatal shooting of a man whose body was found in a West Side drainage ditch called “Hell’s Gate” has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Robert Martinez was convicted of murder Friday. It took a jury about 90 minutes to decide on a sentence Wednesday morning. Martinez, 21, faced five to 99 years or life in prison.
Steven Cerna, 19, was lured to a motel with the promise of making money for drugs, then taken to a drainage ditch on the West Side known as “Hell’s Gate,” where he was killed Feb. 20, 2015. Cerna was shot four times, twice in the face, according to testimony.
Prosecutors Melissa Saenz and Kristina Escalona argued that the killing was done in retaliation for another slaying that did not involve Cerna. Defense attorney Leland McRae contended authorities arrested the wrong man.
The case went cold for two years until prosecutors said Martinez started bragging about the killing.
Martinez’s uncle jailed in a separate, pending kidnapping case, Larry Isaac, testified for the state Thursday that his nephew admitted he shot Cerna.
The victim’s mother, Patricia Cerna, testified that her son suffered from mental illness.
Isaac admitted on the stand that his testimony was part of a plea agreement that capped his prison sentence to nine years on a lesser charge of kidnapping, instead of the 20 he faces.
The case was heard in the 290th state District Court, presided by Judge Melisa Skinner.
The victim’s mother declined to give an impact statement.
Martinez will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole.
Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863
