6 Plead Not Guilty in Beating Death

Six suspects charged in the beating death of an 18-year-old Ventura man appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the September slaying.

Facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit assault are Frank Olvera, 33, and his wife Rosana Olvera, 36; Terry Schell, 22; Dagoberto Davila, 23; Chris Gonzales, 22, and Mario Jaquez, 19.

The suspects, if convicted, would be subject to additional prison time because they are considered gang members or gang associates, prosecutors said. A California statute makes it a crime to be a gang member or associate who urges gang members to commit a felony.

All six will return to court Dec. 13 for a preliminary hearing.

A seventh person, Thomas Barrios, 21, of Ventura was arrested in connection with the slaying on Nov. 12 in Santa Barbara. But Barrios’ arraignment was postponed until Tuesday because he has not yet hired an attorney, Deputy Dist. Atty. Maeve Fox said.

A juvenile has also been arrested in connection with the crime and will go to trial Dec. 6, Fox said.

Prosecutors had earlier indicated they would try the 14-year-old offender, whose name has not been released, as an adult. Fox said that effort was stopped, however, because prosecutors believe the boy may have held William Scott Zara down during the attack, but had not inflicted any blows himself.

“He is an aider and abettor, but he didn’t personally inflict injury that we know of,” Fox said. “He’s a participant in the beating, but more peripherally. That, in combination with his age and lack of a prior history,” meant he did not meet the requirements to be tried as an adult.

Police said they are looking for a ninth person, 18-year-old Benny Lopez of Ventura, for questioning in connection.

Zara was pummeled to death with fists, a bat and shovel on Sept. 25 outside his apartment in the 300 block of East Warner Street in Ventura. The assailants thought Zara had called police to complain about noise from their party across the street. Police, however, said Zara was not the person who made the call.