San Diego

A security guard who fatally stabbed a teen-ager who threw a brick at his car has been sentenced to three years in state prison.

Leonard Johnson, 31, of Lemon Grove, was given the term Wednesday after a lengthy hearing that included testimony from the victim’s family.

Superior Court Judge Frederic L. Link gave Johnson credit for 450 days in County Jail, which include credits for good behavior. No fine was imposed.

Johnson was acquitted of first- and second-degree murder by a jury April 15, but he pleaded no contest three months later to involuntary manslaughter to avoid a retrial.

Tyron Mullen, 18, also of Lemon Grove, was stabbed at an apartment complex on Oct. 24, 1990, and ran across the street to the sheriffs’ substation for help.

His mother, Nancy Smale, has filed a wrongful-death suit against Sheriff Jim Roache and the Lemon Grove sheriff’s substation, and it alleges that deputies were “frolicking” with women visitors, which she contends delayed her son’s getting medical treatment.

Smale told Link that Johnson “has a pattern of anger--uncontrollable anger.”

“He’s taken my son . . . . Give him the maximum sentence,” Smale said, and sat down crying.

Johnson’s attorney, Terry Zimmerman, told the judge that the stabbing was sparked by Mullen’s throwing a brick and denting Johnson’s car.

“It was Mr. Mullen who first began the physical confrontation and grabbed Mr. Johnson,” said Zimmerman.

“At the time of the stabbing, Mr. Johnson believed he was defending himself,” said his attorney.

Johnson told the court the same thing, saying he was “afraid for my life.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jonathan Oliphant, who urged the maximum four year-sentence, disputed Johnson’s story of self-defense.