Gang leader gets life sentence for his role in 2004 killing

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- A Latin Kings gang leader in New Jersey has received a life sentence for his involvement in the 2004 killing of a female gang member who witnessed an abduction.

Latin Kings leader Jose "Boom Bat" Negrete was found guilty in April of murder and conspiracy in the death of 23-year-old Jeri Lynn Dotson, following a 6-week trial in Mercer County. It was the second time he had been convicted in the case.

Prosecutors have said Dotson was targeted after she saw the abduction of a rival gang member hours before her death. Negrete also received a 20-year sentence Friday for the beating of that man, who authorities say was strangled and left for dead but survived the attack.

Dotson was killed in August 2004 by a single gunshot to the back of her head. Her body was left in her Trenton home with her two young children, prosecutors have said.

The 33-year-old Negrete was also convicted in the case in 2009, but his 80-year prison sentence was overturned by an appellate court due to jury misconduct. His first trial had ended in a hung jury.
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