Teen Ordered to Youth Authority in Claes Killing

A 17-year-old Tustin youth was ordered Thursday to spend three years in the California Youth Authority for his role as an accessory after the slaying of another teen who police said was shot to death over a stereo system.

The youth had pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court to being an accessory and receiving stolen property after the May 17 death of Carl Dan Claes, 14, of Tustin.

Another 17-year-old received the same sentence earlier this week after pleading guilty to identical charges. A third juvenile convicted as an accessory is to be sentenced next week.

Two adult brothers, Christopher Sieple, 24, and Kyle Sieple, 18, have pleaded guilty to similar charges and were sentenced to six months in jail and three years’ probation.

Murder charges are pending against a pair of teen-agers who will be tried as adults. Claes was found on a dirt path in the Lemon Heights community, a few miles from where he lived with his grandfather.

Police allege Claes lent his $2,500 mobile stereo system to one of the murder suspects, Tommy Miller, 16, and was slain in a dispute after Miller refused to give it back. Jason Merritt, now 18, is also charged in the slaying.