1 Girl Admits Guilt in Carjack, 2nd Denies It

Accused of squirting pepper spray in the face of a retired teacher, stealing her car at knifepoint and crashing it during a joy ride, two teenage Oxnard girls have taken different routes in court.

A 15-year-old girl pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of carjacking, use of a knife and hit-and-run in connection with the accident after the holdup. She will be sentenced July 9 and could face up to 12 years and two months in the California Youth Authority, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary Tatum said.

A 16-year-old pleaded not guilty last week to charges of carjacking, hit-and-run, use of pepper spray, robbery and taking of a vehicle.

She faces a hearing July 14 in Juvenile Court, where Tatum said she plans to seek a trial on adult charges in Superior Court.

Police said the girls, not identified because of their age, accosted Gertrude Cash, a retired biology teacher, in the parking lot of Vons in Oxnard on June 17. One pulled a knife and demanded Cash’s car keys and when Cash did not respond quickly enough, the other girl squirted her with pepper spray, police said.

Police said the pair grabbed Cash’s keys and drove until they hit another car, whose driver chased them and forced them to stop. He and another man chased the girls on foot and detained them until police could arrest them.

The girls are being held in Juvenile Hall in Ventura until their next court appearances.