VENTURA : CYA to Evaluate Killer for Sentencing

A former Ventura High School track star who killed an Oxnard youth will be evaluated by the California Youth Authority to determine if he should be incarcerated with other teen-agers or go to prison.

Superior Court Judge James McNally on Wednesday ordered the evaluation of Jesse Conchas, 18, to clear the way for the man’s sentencing April 15.

Conchas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a weapon in the May 3 stabbing of Jose Lopez Navarro, 16, in Ventura’s Camino Real Park. Because he was 17 when he committed the crime, Conchas can be sent either to the CYA or to state prison, attorneys said.

McNally could also allow Conchas to serve his sentence through age 25 in a CYA facility with other juvenile offenders before being transferred to prison.

Although an adult would be sentenced to 16 years to life for the slaying, McNally may opt for a shorter sentence because of Conchas’ age at the time of the crime.

The decision on where to incarcerate Conchas will be based mainly on whether CYA officials and McNally believe that he can be rehabilitated.

McNally heard conflicting testimony Wednesday on whether Conchas was affiliated with the Ventura Avenue Gangsters. Martin Sanchez Jankowski, a UC Berkeley sociologist who specializes in low-income areas, said Conchas could not be a full-fledged gang member because his B-plus grade average and participation in two Ventura High varsity running teams would not leave enough time to pursue gang activities.

Ventura Police Officer Mark Stadler disputed that, saying Conchas often associated with gang members and even had a gang name.

Also addressing the court Wednesday were Navarro’s parents, who tearfully described their pain since their son’s death.

“When I lost my son, I felt as if I lost my life as well,” Adalberto Navarro, the slain boy’s father, said through an interpreter. “I don’t want anything bad to be done to this young man, but I would like to see him to continue to be in jail.”