Convicted murderer Nathan Ojeda showed no emotion as he learned his fate. 

Judge Alberto Lamorena said in court, “The defendant Nathan Ojeda, is sentenced to life imprisonment without stand provision of law.”

Ojeda now a lifer. He was convicted in the shooting death of Anthony “AJ” Mendiola that unfolded on Jan. 4. 

Mendiola was gunned down in front of his Hagat home. Ojeda later turned himself in to authorities telling investigators he was shot at first. 

Authorities never identified a motive. Ojeda apologized to the victim's family through his defense attorney. 

Jessica Joy Balajada is AJ's sister. “That monster took our everything that day. Having to be told by the surgeon that evening, Jan. 4th 2023, his words were I’m so sorry, we did all that we could to help him. Those words changed our lives forever and tore our hearts to pieces that could never be put back together,” She said. 

She held back tears while facing her baby brother's killer on the witness stand, saying, “That monster must remain incarcerated behind those four walls just like my brother is right now.” 

Jolene Santos also faced the man who took her brother-in-law's life, reading a statement on behalf of AJ's widow.

“He kept my family in place. Now that he's gone, our family structure has been shattered. To rebuild while broken feels impossible. To now have to work and caring for the kids while grieving is painful beyond measure,” She expressed. 

Ojeda was convicted of aggravated murder, along with special allegations of possession or use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. Despite the conviction, Ojeda’s mother, Patti Portodo-Hernandez testified her son is innocent.

“I ask one question, Your Honor. As a mom, I have not seen one photo nor video in this case that my son, Nathan was holding a gun, shooting this person, I want to see that photo, I want to see that video, that’s all I ask,” Hernandez pleaded. 

Ojeda plans to fight his conviction and his sentence before the Supreme Court of Guam.