SANTA PAULA : Murder Suspect, 17, to Stand Trial as Adult

A 17-year-old Santa Paula boy accused of murdering a father of four while randomly shooting at buildings in Cabrillo Village must stand trial as an adult, a judge ruled Wednesday.

In reaching his decision, Acting Ventura County Superior Court Judge Richard Abbe ruled that Merle Lopez should have known somebody could die when he shot at Jose Guadalupe Gutierrez on Oct. 1.

Gutierrez, 37, was gunned down as he stood outside a building on Cinco De Mayo Street about 9:30 p.m. He had just finished leading an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting when a single bullet pierced his heart.

Two other defendants--an adult and one of Lopez’s juvenile cousins--were also charged. Prosecutors said the three defendants were under the mistaken assumption that they were shooting at gang associates.

A defense attorney told the judge that the other youth, Jose Villareal, 17, pressured Lopez into taking part in the shooting.

But Abbe said the Lopez case must be handled in adult court because the defendant displayed criminal sophistication, engaged in prior criminal activity and committed a serious crime.

“I think he was a willing and active participant in this offense,” said Abbe, who set Lopez’s bail at $250,000.

Villareal is also being tried as an adult. In April, 21-year-old Rudolfo Leo Martinez was sentenced to 18 years to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

As a juvenile, Lopez could have been kept in custody until age 25 if convicted. As an adult, he could face a term of up to life in prison.