Oxnard Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Stabbing
An Oxnard man charged with the fatal stabbing of another man in the Pacific View Mall parking lot last year has pleaded guilty.
Joseph Charles Zuniga, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter in the Oct. 28 death of Hilario Casillas, 21, of Ventura, prosecutor Miles Weiss said. Zuniga faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison but could get probation, Weiss said. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25.
The fact that Zuniga acknowledged responsibility early in the proceedings might weigh in his favor with the judge, Weiss said.
After a fight between Zuniga and Casillas in the parking lot, Casillas ran toward a group of witnesses, said he had been stabbed and collapsed, police said. He later died of a stab wound to the chest.
Police found Zuniga a short time later hiding in the bathroom of a nearby building, authorities said.
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