Teen’s Plea Delayed in Fatal Beating of Couple
A Santa Paula boy accused of fatally beating a neighborhood couple with a bat during a home burglary last month appeared in Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday but did not enter a plea.
Attorney Jay Johnson told Judge Kevin McGee that he needed additional time to review charges of murder, robbery, burglary and joyriding against Adam Sarabia, 16. McGee ordered Sarabia back to court Nov. 13 for arraignment.
Johnson later described Sarabia as a good student who had only one previous run-in with police for inhaling chemicals.
Sarabia was arrested Friday on suspicion of bludgeoning John Ramirez Jr., 59, and Joann Wotkyns, 55, in the bedroom of their Santa Paula home Oct. 21.
Deputy Dist. Atty. John C. West said Tuesday that the motive appears to be burglary.
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