EL RIO : Fatal Stabbing Leads to 4-Year Sentence

An El Rio man who fatally stabbed a 16-year-old neighbor during a fight in June was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday.

Ralph D. Hernandez, 19, was convicted Dec. 9 of involuntary manslaughter in the stabbing of Jessie Camarillo.

According to trial testimony, Hernandez and the victim were longtime adversaries who had argued shortly before the stabbing.

Hernandez then challenged Camarillo to a fistfight, witnesses testified, and when Camarillo appeared to gain the upper hand, Hernandez stabbed him four times.

On Wednesday, the victim’s mother, Irene Camarillo, said the verdict of involuntary manslaughter--the least serious homicide charge--had caused anguish for her and her family.

“I think he deserves a little more than manslaughter,” Irene Camarillo told Superior Court Judge Frederick A. Jones.

Sobbing as she recalled the number of stab wounds, she said: “Four times--Jesus, four times . . . . All I ask, honorable judge, is please, don’t let this man get out too soon.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Saundra T. Brewer asked Jones for the maximum term of four years for the slaying plus an additional year because a knife was used.

Hernandez’s attorney, George C. Eskin, argued for probation, saying his client had a practically clean record. He noted that several jurors--five of whom attended the sentencing--had sent letters asking for leniency.

But to grant Hernandez probation, the judge had to find that it was an unusual case and that the interests of justice warranted such leniency. After taking a 15-minute recess to consider the case, Jones said he could not make such a finding.

He said, “The risk the defendant poses to the public is substantial.”

He decided on a three-year term for the homicide plus one year for the weapon allegation.

Hernandez, who already has credit for 320 days, will be eligible for parole in a little more than a year.