Ex-Teacher Gets 18 Years to Life in Fatal Beating

After two juries could not agree on murder charges, prosecutors earlier this year made Denneth T. Jackson an offer: If the former junior high school teacher pleaded guilty to manslaughter, he would serve less than one more year behind bars for a 1994 fatal gang beating outside his Reseda apartment.

“I would have taken it, “ said Michael White, Jackson’s court-appointed attorney. “But he said: ‘I didn’t do it. It would be wrong for me to plead guilty.’ ”

Instead Jackson, 29, was tried again--and convicted.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison on murder and assault charges in the gang attack. With credit for time served awaiting trial, he will be eligible for parole in about 2010, prosecutors said.

“It’s been really frustrating for us, for the whole family, waiting for all these trials,” said Jose Aguilar, who with his brother, Julio, was beaten that night. “Finally, justice was served.”

During Wednesday’s hearing in Van Nuys, Superior Court Judge Judith Ashmann denied White’s motions for a new trial and a reduced sentence.

“I would have no qualms in setting aside a conviction if I believed your client innocent,” Ashmann said. “I don’t think your client’s an innocent man. . . . According to the evidence, which the jury believed, your client really was the main actor.”

Julio Aguilar was killed early on Nov. 12, 1994, during a run-in with members of the Reseda Westside gang over an auto accident.

At the time, Jackson was having a party attended mostly by underage Reseda Westside members, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Ipsen. During the night, Aguilar drove his car into the van of one of the party-goers and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. By all accounts, Jackson kept the peace during the first altercation that ensued.

But Aguilar returned about 2:30 a.m. with his brother and uncle to inspect the damage on the van. Prosecutors said it was then that Jackson led a mob to the car, from which the Aguilar brothers were pulled and beaten.

Seven people were arrested in the beatings. All but Jackson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received 11-year prison sentences.

Jackson testified at all three trials, denying that he was a gang member and saying he acted in self-defense. Much of the testimony in the third trial centered on conflicting portraits of Jackson. White called on several teachers from Madison Middle School in North Hollywood, where Jackson had taught social studies, who said he tried to steer youths away from gangs.

But prosecutors said he was a lifelong gang member, complete with tattoos. “Mr. Jackson was a schoolteacher for two months, and for some reason he couldn’t let go of his gang standing,” Ipsen said.

A single holdout juror forced a mistrial the first time. In the second trial, an Alhambra jury deadlocked 7-5 in favor of acquittal.