OXNARD : Man Gets 7 Years in Shooting Death

A judge sentenced an Oxnard man to seven years in prison for a shooting death in October that he claimed was self-defense

A jury in July convicted Zolly Terry Jr., 22, of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jerome Hurst of Oxnard. Hurst, 25, was the estranged boyfriend of Terry’s sister. The jury also convicted Terry of attempted voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of Vernon Hunter, who survived the gunfire at an Oxnard apartment.

Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison expressed disappointment with the sentencing. He had urged acting Superior Court Judge Steven Hintz to sentence Terry to more than 11 years in prison, the maximum allowed for the offense.

“I think that is an extremely lenient sentence,” Ellison said, adding that he was also disappointed with the jury’s verdict of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors had asked for a premeditated murder conviction, which could have sent Terry to prison for life.

Citing a lack of a criminal record, defense attorney Steve Pell asked that Terry be placed on probation, an argument that Hintz also rejected.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have charged Terry’s mother with being an accessory to her son’s crimes. She is scheduled to stand trial by Sept. 5.

Ellison said Dolores Terry is charged with hiding the gun her son used, putting him up in a Los Angeles motel after the shooting and lying to police about his whereabouts. The handgun has not been found.

She faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison if found guilty.