EL RIO : Convicted Man Rejects Bail Chance

A 19-year-old man convicted last week of involuntary manslaughter has decided to stay in Ventura County Jail until his Jan. 8 sentencing for fear of retaliation from his victim’s friends, his attorney said.

Ralph Hernandez and his family passed up bail that was reduced from $100,000 to $20,000, partly because Superior Court Judge Frederick Jones would not agree to release the former El Rio man on his own recognizance, his attorney, George Eskin, said.

The family’s fear is based on gang activities on the eve of the November trial, in which members of an El Rio gang painted graffiti on buildings in memory of Camarillo, Eskin said.

Because Hernandez had no intention of posting bail, Jones left it at $100,000.