Man Convicted of Fatally Shooting Santa Paula Teen

A Fillmore man accused of fatally shooting a teenager in the back as he fled a fistfight nearly three years ago was found guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder and related charges.

The jury returned its verdict to Ventura County Superior Court after about a day of deliberations.

Jaime Arias, 25, faces a minimum 15 years to life in prison for fatally shooting 19-year-old Richard Macias Jr. on Jan. 3, 1997. Arias, who was acquitted on a related robbery charge, could face an additional 32 years in prison because the jury found him guilty of carjacking, arson and the attempted murder of the victim’s brother.

“He is looking at an extremely long time in prison,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Ellison.

The prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments this week that Arias was guilty of murder because he went after Macias with a gun after the two brawled at the house of a mutual female friend.

Deputy Public Defender Howard Asher argued, however, that Arias was in fear of his life and should face no more serious charge than voluntary manslaughter.

Asher declined comment Wednesday on the verdict.

Macias, a Kmart employee and Santa Paula resident, died after being shot once in the back at his ex-girlfriend’s house in Santa Paula.

Macias and Annette Chavez, who were not married, had a 2-year-old son. According to trial testimony, Macias drove with his brother, Jesse Duenas, to Chavez’s house about 10 p.m. to talk to her about a custody issue and became angry when he saw people there.

Witnesses testified that Macias barged in and confronted Arias and another man, then ordered them to leave. A fight broke out during which a gun Arias was carrying fell out of his clothes. Arias later told police he picked up the weapon and shot Macias to defend himself.

After the shooting, Arias jumped into the teenager’s car, which had been left running in the driveway, and started to pull away when Duenas ran out of the house to stop him, authorities said.

Arias shot Duenas at least three times, fled in the car and burned it alongside Santa Paula Creek.

He later told police he was trying to conceal his fingerprints. Duenas was hospitalized for six days.

Arias fled to Mexico for a year after the shooting. He was arrested near Palm Springs in 1998 and brought back to Ventura County to stand trial. Arias is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 17.