Bail Raised for Man Accused in Fatal Shooting

A 50-year-old Mexican national accused in the slaying of a restaurant owner in Santa Paula had his bail raised in Ventura County Municipal Court on Thursday, and his arraignment was postponed two weeks.

Felix Magana of Santa Paula is accused in the Nov. 2 shooting death of 30-year-old Santa Paula restaurateur Isabel Guzman. Authorities say Magana shot Guzman with a .357 magnum as she unloaded supplies from a truck in the alley behind La Playita Seafood, 930 E. Main St., the restaurant she owns with her husband, Carlos. No motive was given for the shooting.

Magana, who allegedly admitted to the shooting upon his arrest later that day by Santa Paula police, was to have entered a plea Thursday afternoon. But Municipal Judge Steven Hintz, acting on a request by Deputy Public Defender Nicholas Falcone, agreed to postpone the arraignment until Nov. 22.

Since his arrest, Magana, described by Falcone as a father of seven who receives $120 a week in unemployment benefits, has been held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Greg Phillips argued for bail to be set at $1 million, adding that Magana’s extended family has raised the $25,000 bond necessary to free him on the lesser amount. If he were to post bail, Magana would probably flee to Mexico, Phillips said.

Speaking through an interpreter, Magana said he was surprised by Phillips’ assertion and said his family does not have the $25,000. Hintz set bail at $500,000.

Magana, dressed in a light blue jail outfit, looked relaxed during the hearing, occasionally smiling and talking with a male inmate seated to his left. There was a large bruise beneath his right eye.

Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Bob Gonzales said Magana suffered the injury on the afternoon of the shooting, when Carlos Guzman kicked him.

“The victim’s husband saw the aftermath of the shooting and literally chased [Magana] down,” Phillips said. “The police said the victim’s husband made contact with the suspect after the shooting.”