Testimony in the third week of a trial for a Vacaville man
suspected of the July 2011 slaying of another Vacaville resident
focused on the suspect's gang affiliation on Monday.  Detectives
involved in the investigation into the July 30, 2011, shooting
death of 20-year-old Quinten Nears testified in Solano County
Superior Court on Monday about murder suspect Rico Marquez
Espitia's ties to the Norteño criminal street gang. Espitia, 22,
is suspected of gunning down Nears in the driveway of the Alamo
Gardens apartment complex in Vacaville as he walked with a
friend.  Espitia has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in
connection with Nears' death and has denied an enhancement that
alleges the crime was committed for the benefit, in association,
or at the direction of a criminal street gang.  Vacaville police
Detective Steve Howisey, an expert in the area of Norteño
criminal street gangs, testified that Espitia is a member of the
gang.  In coming to his conclusion, Howisey testified that he
considered Espitia's n