Youth Will Be Tried as Adult in Actor’s Death

Genaro S. Villanueva, the 16-year-old Mexican boy charged in the stabbing death of actor David Huffman, was ordered Friday to stand trial for murder as an adult.

Juvenile Court Judge Napoleon Jones Jr. said that Villanueva is “unfit to be dealt with under juvenile court law.” Jones said the boy, who police say has a history of breaking into locked cars, undertook “crime sprees on his own.”

Villanueva is to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Municipal Court.

“There certainly appears to be a commitment to a delinquent life style . . . a (criminal) sophistication that renders this young man unfit to be dealt with under juvenile court laws,” Jones said.

Villanueva is accused of stabbing Huffman with a screwdriver on Feb. 27 in Balboa Park. At the time of his death, Huffman was starring in the Old Globe Theatre production of “Of Mice and Men.” Huffman, 40, attempted to apprehend a youth after he had allegedly used a screwdriver to break into an elderly couple’s parked car. Police said the couple confronted the thief, who fled into Palm Canyon.

Huffman was seated in his van, which was parked in a lot behind the Organ Pavillion a few feet from the couple’s car, when he leaped to offer assistance. He ran after the youth, and police believe that he cornered the youth in the canyon, a steeply sloped area covered with palm and eucalyptus trees and shrubbery. After a brief struggle, police said, Huffman was stabbed twice with a screwdriver.

Friday’s hearing was held so that W. Allan Williams, Villanueva’s court-appointed attorney, could present evidence to convince Jones that the youth should be tried in Juvenile Court. Jones barred reporters from the courtroom, allowing them in only when he was ready to announce his decision to have Villanueva tried as an adult.

After the hearing, Williams said he had argued that Villanueva “didn’t go into the canyon to murder David Huffman.” Williams said that the slaying was not premeditated and Villanueva “had no intent to find somebody to kill.”

Defense psychologist H. Raul Romero Romero told reporters that he testified that Villanueva was not aggressive. Romero said that Villanueva suffers from “conduct disorders” and described him as “a naive, unsocialized individual.”

“His degree of naivete and candor is clearly manifested through his testimony. He was candid and truthful,” Romero said. “In my opinion (the decision to try him as an adult) was a misinterpretation by the court.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Harry Elias said that Villanueva will be tried on a simple charge of murder. It will be up to the jury to decide whether the youth is guilty of first- or second-degree murder or manslaughter, Elias said.

Even if Villanueva is convicted of first-degree murder, he could not receive the death penalty. State law prohibits the execution of anyone under 18 years old. If Villanueva is convicted of first-degree murder, the judge has the option of sentencing him to the California Youth Authority or state prison, Elias said. If sentenced to the CYA, Villanueva could be released at age 25. If sentenced to state prison, Villanueva could receive a term of 25 years to life.