A Compton man was sentenced yesterday to 28 years to life in state prison for his role in the strangling of a man whose body was later set ablaze, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Kang said José Ángel Martínez, 22, was found guilty on Oct. 6 of firstdegree murder and arson in case NA095527.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to a call regarding a car fire at a basketball court in Rancho Palos Verdes on April 23, 2013. As the fire was extinguished, officials found the body of Christopher Waters, 42, in the back of his burned vehicle, according to evidence presented at the trial.

Waters was killed by strangulation before being placed in the car and set on fire, the prosecutor said.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case NA095527 / November 29, 2017