SIMI VALLEY : Transient to Stand Trial in Slaying

A 22-year-old transient has been ordered to stand trial for murder in the fatal shooting and robbery of a Simi Valley insurance worker.

After a preliminary hearing in Ventura County Municipal Court, Oscar Rudolfo Barrascout was held to answer charges of murder, burglary, robbery and use of a firearm in the May 18 slaying of Gregory D. Minor, 37.

Barrascout also was charged with a special circumstance--committing murder during a felony--which allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty if they so choose, Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn said. No decision has yet been made to seek such a penalty.

Barrascout is being held in lieu of $1-million bail in the Ventura County Jail pending his arraignment July 12 in Ventura County Superior Court.

Police found Minor’s body under his bed and the bedroom furniture in disarray on May 18. Witnesses at the hearing testified that Barrascout had visited Minor to look at a white 1984 Corvette that Minor was selling.

The keys to the Corvette were found in the van where Barrascout was sleeping when Simi Valley police detectives arrested him early on May 19. Police also found a diamond-faced, gold watch inscribed with Minor’s initials, witnesses said.

Also in the van, police found the .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol that Barrascout allegedly used to kill Minor.

Two of Barrascout’s friends testified that he showed them the gun while driving to the beach the day before Minor’s death.

Barrascout asked if the gun was powerful enough to kill someone, testified one of the friends, David Morales.