THOUSAND OAKS : Ruling Delayed in Death From Liquor

A Municipal Court judge Thursday delayed deciding whether two Thousand Oaks brothers will stand trial in the alcohol-poisoning death of a 14-year-old boy whom they allegedly supplied with whiskey and dared to chug-a-lug it.

Malibu Municipal Court Judge Lawrence J. Mira said he wants more time to review arguments and relevant cases. He said he expected to rule today on the novel case surrounding the death of Leland Scovis, the youngest of five teen-age boys the defendants were chaperoning on a camping trip at Leo Carrillo State Beach.

David Campbell, 29, and Patrick Campbell, 23, are each charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, four counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Another chaperon, Priscilla Vernon, 21, of Newbury Park is charged with being an accessory to involuntary manslaughter and with five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Vernon is the sister of one of the boys and is engaged to David Campbell.

During the April 14 camping trip, David Campbell took responsibility for the boys and supplied them with alcohol, according to testimony during the preliminary hearing. Patrick Campbell allegedly bet Leland that he could not drink the two to three inches of alcohol left in a half-gallon jug of whiskey without getting sick, according to testimony.

Leland drank the whiskey and collapsed shortly thereafter, witnesses said. About two hours later, after Leland had developed breathing problems, he was taken by helicopter to Westlake Medical Center in Westlake Village. He died two days later.

But most people would not realize that alcohol could cause death, said Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Carol A. Clem, who is representing David Campbell.

“All these people thought he’d sleep off his drunkenness,” she said. “They were unaware he could die from alcohol.”

Vernon’s lawyer, Martin Gladstein, said Vernon showed disapproval during the night’s events, left before Leland drank on the dare and should not be punished simply for being present.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Gordon said Leland had the right to expect more from all three chaperons.

“A 14-year-old boy has a right to be protected by adults,” Gordon said.