VENTURA : Man Arrested Over Courtroom Punch

Authorities arrested a distraught stepfather in a Ventura County courtroom Tuesday for taking a swing at the 25-year-old Oxnard resident convicted of second-degree murder in his stepson’s death.

Officials said one bailiff wrestled Sergio Torres to the floor and another handcuffed him after Torres tried to punch defendant Joseph Leon Samuel, 25. While a judge sentenced Samuel to 15 years to life in prison for his involvement in 24-year-old Anthony Pech’s March shooting death, authorities booked Torres into the Ventura County Jail on suspicion of battery.

Officials said they later released Torres on his own recognizance and that a court date will be set for September.

According to witnesses, the incident occurred after a string of Pech’s relatives gave emotional testimony about his death’s effect on the family. Senior Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom, Samuel’s lawyer, said some relatives argued that the defendant should be killed and Pech’s mother made a racial remark about Samuel, who is African American.

“It was escalating,” Windom said. “Mr. Torres talked about life being taken away and as he got ready to leave, he then moved from behind me and took a swing at the defendant. His arm came over my right arm.”

Sheriff’s Deputy John Wilson said he hit an alarm button but that he and another bailiff managed to restrain Torres before backup deputies streamed into Courtroom 33 seconds later. According to Wilson, no other relatives jumped into the fray.

“The rest of the family just sat there,” Wilson said. “I said, ‘Just stay there.’ ”

Windom said Samuel, whose shoulder was lightly grazed by the blow, said he did not want to press charges because he understood the family was upset.

Pech was killed March 22 when Samuel and another man broke into Pech’s home on Helm Drive in Oxnard. Windom said that though Samuel entered the home, he was not the triggerman and that the investigation of the second man is continuing.