‘Live Free Tour’ Juvenile suspects’ names released

D.A.’s office identifies minors charged with murder in Stearns Wharf case

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The District Attorney’s Office has released the names of the two 15-year-olds with alleged ties to Ventura County gangs who have been charged with murder in connection with the Dec. 9 shooting death of an innocent bystander on Stearns Wharf.

One of the teens appeared in Juvenile Court on Thursday for further proceedings, Senior Deputy District Attorney Tate McAllister told the News-Press.

“Minor Matthew Lopez continued his case to 3/28,” the prosecutor said. “The other minor, Adan de la Cruz, is set for that date already, also for further proceedings.

“Further proceedings,” he said, “just means that the court and the parties will appear to address any issues that need to be addressed and check on the status of the case.”

The two teens have denied the murder charges filed against them.

The District Attorney’s Office will not seek to try them as adults in Superior Court where their sentences would be a lot stiffer if they were convicted.

“The law was recently changed to prohibit the transfer of 14and 15-year olds to adult court, so the juveniles must be tried as juveniles,” Prosecutor McAllister said.

A third juvenile, 16, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and with illegal possession of an unregistered firearm, but the prosecutor confirmed he cannot discuss that minor’s case or release his name.

“Per Welfare and Institutions Code section 676, I can discuss only minors charged with

Please see MURDER on A4