Falsely Accused in Death, Ex-Prisoner Wins $2.1 Million

An elated 36-year-old former cook imprisoned 2 1/2 years for a murder he never committed was awarded $2.1 million Thursday by a U.S. District Court jury.

In a unanimous verdict, Juan Venegas won the award from three Long Beach policemen, Ronnie J. Skaggs, Carthel S. Roberson and Douglas E. Bostard, after a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Kelleher.

In the civil case, a fourth officer, Robert M. Bell, was absolved of any wrongdoing.

Attorneys for Venegas argued that he was denied his constitutional right to a fair trial when the officers persuaded witnesses to lie about his role in a 1971 murder.

The soft-spoken man, who now works as a clerk in a Los Angeles law firm, had won $1 million from a Los Angeles Superior Court jury in 1980 against the City of Long Beach and the same three officers found liable Thursday on grounds of intentional false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

That verdict had been reversed on appeal, however, with appellate justices ruling that the officers were immune from civil liability during performance of their duties. Charles B. O’Reilly, who represented Venegas in that case, said Thursday the state suit yet may be retried on certain limited issues.

In the federal case, jurors assessed $2 million general damages against the officers jointly and $40,000 in punitive damages against each of them. Under law, the City of Long Beach as their employer is generally considered liable for such damages.

“Now I can start a new life,” Venegas said outside the courtroom. “I always had a lot of faith.”

Attorney Michael R. Mitchell, who along with Kenneth R. Roberson represented Venegas, said Thursday: “We are grateful for the jury’s vindication of this long-suffering, decent and honest human being.” But he added, “In a case like this there can be no adequate compensation. His (Venegas’) life has been totally destroyed.”

Venegas, who worked on an offshore drilling platform, launched his state and federal civil actions after he was released from prison Oct. 28, 1974, when the California Supreme Court ruled there had been insufficient evidence to find him guilty.

The high court at the same time upheld the simultaneous conviction of Lawrence Reyes, who confessed to the murder of “Old Bill” Staga in the man’s Long Beach apartment on Christmas Day, 1971.

Venegas, a childhood friend of Reyes who was visiting from Colorado for the Christmas holidays, had been drinking with Reyes Christmas Eve and claimed he was asleep in Reyes’ home when the murder was committed.

Reyes confirmed Venegas’ story during the criminal trial in 1972, saying he awoke Venegas shortly after the murder and had him go with him to report his car had been stolen in order to establish an alibi.

The two were arrested together after police broadcast witnesses’ descriptions of the “young, male Mexican” assailant. Witnesses believed the suspect was clean-shaven like Reyes. Venegas had a full black beard.

Venegas’ attorneys convinced jurors in both trials that witnesses had lied during the criminal hearings and were persuaded by police officers to do so.

Venegas has said in repeated hearings after his release that he suffered as a “loner” in prison and was always in trouble with ethnic gangs and guards. He said he was often relegated to “the hole” as a difficult prisoner, sleeping on a concrete slab.

Thursday, Venegas was characteristically pleased but subdued over his latest victory. He has told The Times he feels vindicated by jurors’ faith in him but is concerned about the appellate process.