4 Teens Plead Not Guilty in Spearing Death

Four San Clemente youths pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of murder, assault and conspiracy stemming from a confrontation that left a 17-year-old boy fatally injured with a paint roller rod through his head.

The defendants--Julio Perez Bonilla, 17, Rogelio Vasquez Solis, 17, Hector Penuelas, 17, and Saul Penuelas, 18--made their first appearances in Municipal Court in Laguna Niguel since a Juvenile Court judge ruled last month that they should be tried as adults.

In addition to one count of murder, 10 counts of felony assault and one felony count of throwing an object at a moving vehicle, the defendants each face a new count of conspiracy and a sentencing enhancement alleging gang involvement, Deputy Dist. Atty. Gary Paer said.

The defendants, who are among six arrested and charged in connection with the Oct. 15 confrontation at Calafia County Beach Park in San Clemente, remain in custody on $250,000 bail each.

Steve Woods of San Clemente fell into a coma after the attack and died about three weeks later.

Prosecutors and police say Woods was among 10 friends in three vehicles who were pelted with rocks, beer cans, paint rollers and other items by about 10 to 15 people as they tried to avoid a confrontation with the group in the beach parking lot.

No evidence has been introduced suggesting who threw the paint roller that struck Woods.

Deputy Public Defender Stephen J. Biskar, who represents Saul Penuelas, said he intends to eventually ask that the trial be moved to another county because of “substantial publicity” surrounding the case.

The defendants will be back in court March 8 for a preliminary hearing to determine if they should be tried in Superior Court on the charges. A fifth defendant faces trial on all counts, while a sixth, who plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, awaits sentencing.