OXNARD : Juvenile to Stand Trial as Adult

An Oxnard youth charged in the shooting of a Westlake restaurant owner was ordered Tuesday to stand trial as an adult, one day after his alleged accomplice--accused of actually shooting the victim--pleaded guilty.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren found Rady Doria, 17, unfit to remain in Juvenile Court because of the seriousness and sophistication of the crime, authorities said.

The juvenile and 20-year-old Henry Mabalot of Oxnard were arrested March 3, about an hour after trying to rob Almoez Megji , 35, of Calabasas, authorities said.

Authorities said the incident began about 10:30 p.m. as the restaurant owner walked to his car in the parking lot outside his business, Fin’s Seafood Grill on Westlake Boulevard.

Mabalot confronted him, pulled a .22-caliber pistol and demanded money, police said. Mabalot then shot Megji in the neck and ran to a car driven by the juvenile, authorities said.

The suspects were arrested after Megji chased them north on Ventura Freeway, describing them and their car to police. Police found the suspects an hour later, one hiding in a dumpster, another in a phone booth outside a fast-food restaurant.

Mabalot pleaded guilty Monday to one count of assault and faces 14 years in prison, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kim G. Gibbons said.

The juvenile will be arraigned in Ventura County Municipal Court today. He is also charged with assault, as well as attempted robbery and shooting at an occupied vehicle.