Two charged in connection with Mesquite slaying

Two suspects with gang ties have been arrested in the decade-old slaying of a fellow gang member in Mesquite.

Freddy Ponce and Paul Lopez, ages unknown, were charged with murder in the death of Roberto Carlos Gonzales, 25, in 2000.

All three men were identified in a Las Vegas police report as members of the Rebels 13 street gang.

In October, Isaias Vega, 27, who also is alleged to be a gang member, was arrested and charged with murder in the cold case, a joint investigation between the Metropolitan Police Department and Mesquite police.

According to Mesquite police, Ponce and Lopez were arraigned in Mesquite Justice Court on Wednesday.

According to the Las Vegas police report, Gonzales' death was planned by members of his gang, who believed Gonzales was a "snitch" for police.

Gonzales was found dead in an area known as the Caskeros, near Hafen Lane in Mesquite. Clark County coroner office personnel determined he was beaten to death, police said. The report said he was attacked with baseball bats after being lured to the site by the promise of beer.

Detectives with the Las Vegas police Gang Crime Bureau picked up the investigation last year, the report said.

In an interview in June with detectives, Vega denied involvement in the slaying, the report said, but "Vega appeared like he wanted to confess but was afraid of the repercussions from the gang as well as what may happen to him regarding criminal charges."

Anyone with information about others who may be involved in the slaying is urged to call the Las Vegas police Gang Crimes Bureau at 828-3309 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.