SANTA ANA : Charges Dropped in Back-Yard Slaying

Murder and assault charges have been dropped for the last of three men who were accused of gunning down a teacher’s aide and wounding his wife at a back-yard birthday party, officials said Thursday.

Ronald Azevedo, 19, is the third man freed of charges in connection with the Feb. 3, 1992, drive-by shooting death of Joel Davalos, 21, a teacher’s aide at Jackson Elementary School. His wife, Sylvia Davalos, also 21, was injured.

Defense attorney Fred McBride said prosecutors moved for dismissal of the charges after Orange County Superior Court Judge Everett W. Dickey indicated that he would not allow Azevedo’s statement to police to be used as evidence. Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark A. Sevigny did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The statement was key to the case, according to McBride, who said his client denied any knowledge of the shooting. Charges against the other men were dropped because of insufficient evidence, McBride said.