Boy, 14, Sentenced in Fatal Shooting of His Sister, 12

Despite pleas for leniency from his family and friends, an Anaheim teen-ager was sentenced Thursday to 17 years to life in the California Youth Authority for the fatal shooting of his 12-year-old sister.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Robert E. Thomas said Richard Hubler, 14, would not benefit from a Juvenile Hall commitment and needs to be sent to CYA to “develop a self-discipline he answers to.” Under juvenile authority guidelines he could be released after seven years.

Gema Marie Hubler was shot once in the head June 14 at her family’s Anaheim Shores home. She died four days later, never regaining consciousness.

Hubler, who was convicted of second-degree murder, at first lied to police, telling them that intruders had shot his sister. Later, he said he shot her accidentally.

But prosecutors introduced evidence during his trial that the two had argued vehemently just before the shooting. Among other things, a girlfriend with whom Hubler had been speaking on the telephone heard him tell his sister to shut up or he would shoot her.

Hubler was on probation at the time for two previous incidents in which he possessed guns.