OXNARD : Youth Gets 60 Days in Fatal Shooting

An Oxnard teen-ager who killed his stepfather in the mistaken belief the man had killed his mother was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail.

The 18-year-old, who was 17 when he committed the crime in November, will serve his sentence in the county work furlough program, performing his job as a file clerk at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme during the day and confined to Camarillo Airport at night and on weekends.

The teen-ager, who is not being identified because of his age, pleaded guilty last month to voluntary manslaughter in the Nov. 30 shooting of Walter Bell, 43. Investigators said the teen-ager had just learned that his mother, Regina Lewis, 42, died of a gunshot wound and he mistakenly believed Bell had killed her.

Investigators determined that the mother committed suicide.

Superior Court Judge Robert C. Bradley, acting as a Juvenile Court judge, rejected a defense request not to place the teen-ager in custody. Although Bradley said the teen-ager has led a good life and had been actively involved in community service, that did not negate the need to teach him a lesson.

“Despite everything I have read in (the teen-ager’s) favor, to send (him) out this door with no sanctions as far as additional custody time would send the wrong message,” Bradley said. “I feel that (he) needs to think about this in somewhat of a custodial setting.”

Deputy Public Defender Howard Asher said 30 people, including Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez, wrote to the court on behalf of the teen-ager. A Ventura College student until the slaying, the teen-ager plans to return to school this summer, Asher said.

The teen-ager has been living with his grandparents since shortly after his arrest. The grandparents and two uncles were in court for the sentencing.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Holmes asked Bradley to impose a six-month sentence. The prosecutor emphasized that he did not want the teen-ager housed with hardened criminals.