A 16-year-old boy was found guilty on June 26 for the first-degree murder last year of a 66-year-old Oxnard man who had been sleeping outside a church.
Sentencing is set for July 13 at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a news release. The youth could face a maximum base term of seven years in a secured youth treatment facility.
He was found guilty of killing Davy Glen Pichel who was found by a volunteer outside St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard on June 5, 2025. Pichel was partially clothed and had significant injuries to his face and head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said church security video showed the two juveniles approaching Pichel next to his wheelchair near the church entrance. Prosecutors said the teens beat and stomped the man, walking away and returning multiple times to continue the attack.
“This was an exceptionally brutal and senseless attack on a vulnerable member of our community,” said Ventura Coutny Deputy District Attorney Juliet Buff.
The teen found guilty on June 26 was 14 at the time of attack. The second Oxnard teen pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in January and was sentenced to seven years in a secured youth treatment facility.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Teen found guilty in killing of Oxnard man sleeping outside church
Reporting by Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
