15 Charged in Alleged Gang-Related Killing

Fifteen alleged gang members, including six juveniles, have been charged in last month’s beating and fatal stabbing of a man in Canyon Country, authorities said Monday.

All but one were charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance of lying in wait and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. The other defendant was charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Byron Benito, 19, was beaten and stabbed repeatedly in what authorities said was the defendants’ retaliation for a killing earlier that day.

No decision has been made about seeking the death penalty for the adult defendants. The district attorney’s office has asked that the juveniles be tried as adults, though they could not face the death penalty because the incident occurred before they turned 18. If convicted, the juveniles could face life imprisonment.

The names of the juvenile defendants were not released. The adult defendants are: Randy Franco, 21, of Canyon Country; Alfredo Hernandez, 22, of Sylmar; Katherine Mary Henson, 21, of Granada Hills; Samuel Herr, 18, of Canyon Country; Jorge Luis Manrique, 18, of Canyon Country; Robert Moreno Jr., 20, of Canyon Country; John Perez Romero, 20, of Saugus; Jose De Jesus Rodriguez, 20, of Canyon Country; and Roger Patrick Villasenor, 21, of Canyon Country.