Judge Says 4 Defendants in 4 Slayings Can Talk Only to Attorneys

Four jailed defendants charged in the murders of four people at a “rock” cocaine house in Lake View Terrace will not be allowed to communicate with anyone but their lawyers, a San Fernando judge ruled Friday.

The restrictions, imposed despite the objections of several defense attorneys, are intended to prevent harassment and intimidation of witnesses by the defendants or their associates, Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Myron L. Jenkins told the judge that several witnesses had received death threats. He would not comment further about them.

Authorities said they think at least a dozen people were involved in the Aug. 28 slayings of Andre Louis Armstrong, 31; James Brown, 43, both of Pacoima; Lorretha Anderson English, 24, of Seaside, and her 28-month-old daughter, Chemise. As of Friday, 11 people had been charged. Seven are in custody, and warrants are outstanding for four others. Police have not named the 12th person.

Attorneys for the four jailed defendants denied that their clients had threatened witnesses and objected to the judge’s order. They said it violated constitutional rights, infringed on attorney-client privileges and severely interfered with their work. Attorneys argued that to prepare a defense, the defendants should be allowed to speak with witnesses in the presence of defense attorneys.

The defendants involved are: Stanley Bryant, 30, of Pacoima; Levie Slack III, 24, of Pacoima; Le Roy Wheeler, 19, of Sylmar; and Antonio Johnson, 28, of Lake View Terrace. Bryant, Slack and Wheeler were charged earlier this month with the four murders and with the attempted murder of Lorretha Anderson English’s 18-month-old son, Carlos, who was injured by breaking glass during the shootings. Johnson was charged with being an accessory to the murders.

A fifth man, Nash Newbil, 52, of Lake View Terrace, was charged Thursday with being an accessory to murder. He is in custody and scheduled for arraignment Monday. Two others, Tannis Bryant Curry, 26, and James Franklin Williams III, 19, both of Pacoima, have been charged with the four murders and attempted murder. They are awaiting extradition from Louisiana and Pennsylvania, respectively.

On Friday prosecutors released the names of three more suspects who have been charged in the slayings. They are John Preston Settle, 28; William Gene Settle, 30, and Provine McCloria, 19, all of Pacoima. John Preston Settle was charged with the four murders and attempted murder, and McCloria and William Gene Settle are charged with being accessories to the murders.

Police are still searching for the men, as well as for Antonio Arceneaux, who police said has been charged with the murders and attempted murder.