South San Francisco man convicted of murder from 2019

A man from South San Francisco was found guilty of murder after strangling a man at a bus stop in 2019. Vincent Jesus Osegueda, 40, attacked 62-year-old Joseph Mendoza in what prosecutors described as a random act of violence. The jury reached a verdict after two and a half hours of deliberation. Osegueda will face a separate trial to determine how a past robbery conviction will affect his sentence for the murder. District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe expressed satisfaction in delivering justice for Mendoza’s family after years of following the case. Osegueda could be sentenced to up to 30 years to life in prison. The judge may factor in his previous conviction, which could double the baseline sentence for the murder. Osegueda's defense attorney expressed disappointment with the jury's decision and hoped the judge might overlook the earlier conviction during sentencing. The murder occurred on August 5, 2019, as Mendoza waited for a bus near Airport Boulevard and Linden Avenue. Osegueda attacked him, and when police arrived, he was found trying to hide Mendoza's body. Osegueda had injuries on his hands and did not speak to the police at the time. What motivated Osegueda to attack Mendoza remains unclear. The case has highlighted issues surrounding mental health, as Osegueda had undergone treatment before his trial. He currently remains in custody without bail.