7 Indicted in Slaying Over Noise Complaint

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Grand Jury has indicted seven people on charges that they beat to death a man they apparently suspected of calling the police about them.

William Zara, 18, was attacked by a crowd of alleged gang members wielding bats and shovels on Sept. 25, after being mistaken as the person who reported a loud party to police, prosecutors said.

The six men and one woman, plus a 14-year-old youth, all Ventura residents, were charged Nov. 4 with murder in connection with the slaying, and a preliminary hearing for the adult suspects was set to begin Monday.

But, fearing retaliation against witnesses appearing in an open hearing, prosecutors skirted that process by taking the case to the grand jury.

On Monday, three deputy district attorneys presented Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie with indictments against the seven adults.

Facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit assault are Frank Olvera, 33, and his wife Rosana Olvera, 36; Terry Paul Schell, 22; Chris Gonzales, 22; Mario Jaquez, 19; Thomas Barrios, 21, and Benny Lopez, 18. Lopez remains at large.

Schell, Gonzales, Jaquez, Barrios and Lopez each face an additional charge of street terrorism, and all seven defendants face allegations that the slaying was done to benefit a gang.

The six defendants in custody pleaded not guilty Monday and agreed to a March 27 trial date.

Fox said criminal charges had been dropped against a ninth suspect, 23-year-old Dagoberto Davila. Fox said prosecutors became aware of facts during the grand jury proceedings that convinced them Davila was innocent.