Murder Charge Refiled in Teen-Ager’s Death

Murder charges were reinstated Monday against a Reseda man in the death of a 13-year-old follower who was killed by falling glass during a break-in at a television repair shop.

Julio Grassano, 23, pleaded not guilty in Van Nuys Superior Court to charges of murder, child abuse and commercial burglary. He was arrested after the April 10 death of Donald Saravia, whose neck was slashed by jagged glass falling from the window of the Reseda shop.

Police said the boy was breaking into the shop at Grassano’s direction. Investigators said Grassano had a group of at least four young boys, including Donald, who committed crimes for him to get money for drugs.

Grassano was charged with murder on the grounds that he was responsible for Donald’s actions the night of the burglary and that encouraging the boy to commit crimes was a form of child abuse that ultimately led to the boy’s death.

After a preliminary hearing on the charges earlier this month, Municipal Judge Robert L. Swasey ruled that Grassano could not be tried for murder in the accidental death. But on Monday, Deputy Dist. Atty. David Campbell refiled the charge in Superior Court, where Judge Judith M. Ashmann is scheduled to decide July 15 whether a murder trial can proceed.