Woman Pleads Guilty to Witness Intimidation

VENTURA COUNTY —  A 23-year-old Somis woman pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to intimidate witnesses in the murder case against white supremacist Justin Merriman.

Jennifer Wepplo is the second woman to admit she attempted to frighten grand jury witnesses helping prosecutors build their case against Merriman, who is charged with the 1992 rape and murder of a Santa Monica College student.

Wepplo, whom prosecutors describe as a longtime friend of Merriman, 26, is expected to serve a year in jail for writing letters at Merriman’s direction to other incarcerated members of his Ventura white supremacist gang, the Skin Head Dogs.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron Bamieh said that in one of at least eight letters, Wepplo suggested that a witness be “taken out.” Bamieh said investigators traced the letters, signed with the alias “Jenny Somis,” to Wepplo through the return address on the envelope.

Wepplo’s lawyer, Nancy Aronson, declined to comment.

Katrina Montgomery, 20, disappeared after leaving an Oxnard party that Merriman also attended at the home of a skinhead. Her body was never recovered, and for years investigators were stumped. In 1997, they found a witness who told a grand jury he saw Merriman rape, stab and bludgeon Montgomery to death. Merriman pleaded not guilty to charges earlier this year.

The maximum sentence for the charge against Wepplo is seven years, though the plea agreement limits her jail term to one year when she is sentenced next month.

Last month, Samantha Medina, 25, of Madera, pleaded guilty to conspiring to intimidate witnesses in Merriman’s case. She is also expected to serve one year and her sentencing is set for next week.

Merriman’s mother, Beverlee Sue Merriman, who faces conspiracy and perjury charges, is scheduled to appear in court later this month.