Conviction, Mistrial in Murder Case
An Orange County Superior Court jury on Thursday convicted a Carson man of first-degree murder in the 1995 shooting death of an Irvine businessman.
Jerome Frank Jones, 28, faces 25 years to life in prison when sentenced. A second defendant, Ramon Patterson, 29, had his case declared a mistrial; a new trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
According to authorities, Jones and Patterson killed Gregory Hebdon outside his East Yale Loop townhome on March 31, 1995, during an attempted robbery and kidnapping. But jurors decided there was not enough evidence to convict Jones on the attempted kidnapping charges.
Hebdon’s slaying shocked the quiet Irvine neighborhood, and authorities began a manhunt for his killers. Jones and Patterson were later arrested in Washington state and extradited to Orange County.
Hebdon’s family expressed satisfaction at Jones’ conviction.
“It feels real good,” said Michelle Hebdon, the victim’s mother. “We’re one down, one more to go.”
Deputy Dist. Atty. Walt Scharm expressed relief over Thursday’s verdict, which took the jury three days to reach.
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