Family of Victim Upset as Killer Skips Sentencing

A Granada Hills man’s failure to appear in court Tuesday for his sentencing on a voluntary-manslaughter conviction stunned and angered the family and friends of the victim.

In the last few days, Kevin Young Cravens, 20, had apparently “come to grips with coming to court and beginning to do his time,” said his attorney, Linda Schwartz. But, when Cravens spoke with his family Monday night, he was “exceedingly despondent,” Schwartz said. His family had to physically restrain him from leaving the house, Schwartz said.

In March, Cravens was charged with murder after Michael James Altoonian, 20, of Reseda was fatally shot in the head. Altoonian was driving with friends on Roscoe Boulevard near Vanalden Avenue when shot, police said. According to court records, Altoonian was struck by one of two shots fired by Cravens, who was in a pickup truck that pulled alongside Altoonian’s truck.

Arguments Cited

Investigators believe that the shooting stemmed from earlier arguments involving the two at the Malibu Grand Prix race track and video arcade in Northridge.

Cravens was allowed to plead guilty Jan. 14 to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter because evidence showed that he may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth L. Barshop said. That would have made it difficult to prove his intent to kill, a prerequisite for a murder conviction, Barshop said.

After Tuesday’s proceedings, about 25 of Altoonian’s family members and friends who attended the sentencing gathered outside the courtroom and paused briefly to comfort each other.

“I’m devastated,” said a visibly shaken Arden Altoonian, the victim’s mother. “The family and friends who have gathered here have been denied their day in court.”

Teresa Lough, one of Altoonian’s childhood friends, said with tears streaming down her face: “If he can’t face justice, he can’t face himself.”

Altoonian’s aunt, Anne Vandewalle, said, “We were here to finally get justice and there is no justice now until he is apprehended and brought back into court and put into jail. It’s up to the police to do something now.”

Because there are indications that Cravens was despondent, he may have simply failed to show up in court rather than actually fleeing jurisdiction, said homicide Detective Wayne Newton of the Los Angeles police. “If it looks like he is on the run, then Teletypes will be circulated statewide,” Newton said. “But it hasn’t reached that point yet.”

Cravens’ failure to appear in court prompted San Fernando Superior Court Judge Robert D. Fratianne to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and to declare forfeiture of the $75,000 bail.

Barshop said he is considering filing another felony charge against Cravens for his failure to appear.