Jesus Valenzuela, also known as ''Joaquin Ocomorenia'', the alias used by him as a member of the

Five Joaquins Gang The Five Joaquins were a mid-19th-century outlaw gang in California which, according to the state legislature, was led by five men, identified as follows: "... the five Joaquins, whose names are Joaquin Murrieta, Joaquin Ocomorenia, Joaquin Vale ...

, born in Pueblo de Murrieta, he was the brother of Joaquin and Teodoro Valenzuela and a cousin of

Joaquin Murrieta Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo (sometimes spelled Murieta or Murietta) (1829 – July 25, 1853), also called the Robin Hood of the West or the Robin Hood of El Dorado, was a Mexican-American figure of disputed historicity. The novel '' The Life and A ...

and his brothers and other Murrieta cousins. He came to California in 1849 with his brothers, Joaquin Murrieta and his brothers and cousins. Jesus Valenzuela was member of the gang not a leader. After he killed a fellow Mexican in a gold camp he promised his brothers he would return to Sonora but he spent the money they gave him for the trip and stayed in California, running with the band of Tres Dedos. Jesus' nickname ''Ocho Moreno'', dated from his childhood in Pueblo de Murrieta, and was his nickname when he became a member of the Five Joaquins Gang. A garbled form of his alias, ''Joaquin Ocomorenia'' became known to the State Legislature and was put on the list of the Five Joaquins.Latta, Frank F., Joaquin Murrieta and His Horse Gangs, Bear State Books. Santa Cruz, California. 1980. xv,685 pages. Illustrated with numerous photos. Index. Photographic front end-papers. Jesus took his brother's name as an alias after Joaquin Valenzuela was killed at the Arroyo de Cantua. Under his name Jesus Valenzuela, became an acknowledged associate of

Jack Powers Jack Powers (1827 – October 26, 1860), whose real name was John A. Power, was an Irish-born American outlaw who emigrated to New York as a child and later served as a volunteer soldier in the Mexican–American War in the garrison of Santa Bar ...

and Pio Linares but still called himself ''Ochomorenia''. Under the name Joaquin Valenzuela, Jesus worked on the

Rancho San Emidio Rancho San Emidio was a Mexican land grant in present-day Kern County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José Antonio Dominguez. The grant was located along San Emigdio Creek in the northeastern foothills of the San Emigd ...

, living there with his family, but was known by some as a former Murrieta gang member. In 1858, following the Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camate murders, robbery and kidnapping, Jesus was identified by a posse, searching the

for the Rancho San Juan murderers, as ''Joaquin Ocomorenia'', thought to be the alias of Joaquin Valenzuela. As Joaquin Valenzuela he was arrested, the vigilantes had believed Jesus was Joaquin Valenzuela who they believed went by an alias Joaquin Ocomorenio. Jesus did not attempt to alert them of their mistake and was hung under his brothers name. The vigilantes after a long search, believed Jesus Valenzuela had escaped their punishment for his crimes with the gang of Pio Linares at Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camate.Angel, Myron; History of San Luis Obispo County, California; with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Thompson & West, Oakland, 1883
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valenzuela, Jesus Mexican outlaws Criminals from California Mexican emigrants to the United States People of the California Gold Rush 1830s births Year of birth uncertain 1858 deaths Outlaws of the American Old West Five Joaquins Gang