Group to Discuss Decision Not to File Charges in Slaying

A Ventura community organization will hold a meeting today to discuss concerns about the Ventura County district attorney’s decision not to prosecute a suspect arrested last week in connection with the stabbing death of 14-year-old Ricardo Hernandez.

Police investigators, however, said Thursday that they just concluded their investigation of the death and will present additional evidence to the district attorney’s office today.

A spokesman for the district attorney said he will review the new evidence and reconsider whether to press charges against Eric Jones, 19, or any of the seven other teen-agers who participated in the fight in which Hernandez was stabbed.

Members of Renewed Avenue Pride, a year-old Ventura Avenue community group, said the 6 p.m. meeting at West Park Community Center was called in response to concerns by the Hernandez family over the district attorney’s handling of the case.

“The family is upset with the D.A.’s decision not to prosecute, and so is the community,” said RAP member Lorraine Sanchez.

“We want to find out exactly what happened and see what alternatives are available to the Hernandez family.”

Kevin J. McGee, assistant chief deputy district attorney, said earlier this week that the stabbing of Hernandez apparently occurred after Hernandez and four of his friends accosted four other men, including Jones, near Grant Park.

Whether Hernandez was a gang member has not been established, but several of the youths accompanying him were members of a gang known as the Ventura Avenue Gangsters, investigators said.

McGee had said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Jones, who was arrested Oct. 10, because the suspect appeared to have acted in self-defense.

Jones was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in Ventura County Jail for carrying a knife in violation of his probation.

But Thursday, McGee said, “The matter is still being reviewed. This is not a finished case as far as we’re concerned.”

He said he was unaware of the RAP meeting. “People can meet or not meet depending on how they feel. That’s their right,” he said.

Sgt. Roger Nustad, who headed the police investigation, said that based on the additional information gathered, Jones is not the only suspect in the case. Hernandez’s associates also could be charged with murder or manslaughter, on the theory that they initiated the assault that led to Hernandez’s death.

“It could be either side,” Nustad said.

The investigator said he does not question the district attorney’s decision not to prosecute the suspect he arrested. “It’s the D.A.’s decision. If he feels he doesn’t have enough evidence to prosecute, it’s my job to gather more evidence to bolster the case,” he said.

But Ventura Police Cpl. John Leach, a member of the police gang detail, said that based on the evidence already available to the district attorney, Jones should at least be tried for manslaughter.

“The D.A. determined it was self-defense and I don’t agree,” he said. “I’m upset with the D.A.’s decision. I’ve talked to several kids on the Avenue and they’re upset too.”

“I think there’s more to it than self-defense. That’s why our detectives continued to work on the case,” he said.

Ventura Police Chief Richard Thomas was involved in meetings with his department’s senior officers at Ventura City Hall and could not be reached for comment.