Surfer Sentenced to Jail, Beach Ban

A territorial surfer was sentenced to nine months in jail this week and banned from a Silver Strand beach for three years after slamming his board into the face of a teenager who peeled down his wave.

Allen “Carter” Slade, 32, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and felony witness intimidation last month after violently enforcing a “locals only” credo at the popular surf spot.

Ventura County prosecutors hope the no-surf terms imposed by Judge Rebecca Riley draw a line in the sand against such bullying tactics.

“The no-surf terms really strike at the heart of what we are trying to stop,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Chrystina Jenson.

The assault occurred last summer during a swell at Silver Strand, an Oxnard-area beach where clashes between local and out-of-town surfers have occasionally erupted for years.

The trouble started when a 19-year-old Port Hueneme surfer dropped in on Slade’s wave.

Slade, who lives in the Silver Strand neighborhood, responded by paddling up to the teen, yanking his board leash and spearing him in the face with the tip of Slade’s surfboard, Jenson said. The attack left the teen bleeding from a gash under the eye.

A second surfer, a 35-year-old man who also lives at Silver Strand, witnessed the assault, paddled over to help the injured teen and encouraged him to report the incident to police, Jenson said.

“The defendant threatened him and said, ‘Watch your back, you’re next,’ ” she said.

Two days later, Slade identified the man who helped the teen to a surfing buddy, Jason Brouchard, who punched him, rupturing his eardrum, Jenson said. Brouchard pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and witness intimidation.

Both victims were hospitalized. They were not identified in court out of fear of retaliation against them, prosecutors said.

Slade was arrested and charged with two felony counts. He denied the charges and claimed he was defending himself. A jury disagreed and convicted him Feb. 6 on both counts.

Slade was sentenced Thursday to nine months in jail and three years’ probation, the terms of which prohibit him from visiting or surfing at Silver Strand beach.

Defense attorney Charles Cassy could not be reached for comment. Jenson said Slade faces a possible prison sentence if he violates the terms.

Slade is not the first Ventura County surfer to face a no-surf order. Five years ago, 22-year-old David Ortega pleaded no contest to battery after tackling a novice surfer in the parking lot at Port Hueneme Beach. Ortega was placed on probation with conditions that he not surf at Port Hueneme Beach.

He was caught violating the order two days after sentencing--earning him a six-month jail term.

On Friday, Jenson said she was fielding calls from surfing magazines inquiring about the Slade case and the unusual terms of his probation.

“I hope this sends a message to surfers and the community that this type of behavior won’t be tolerated,” she said.