5 Teens Accused Of Combined 40 Felony Counts

Teens Accused Of Slaying Elderly Man For Aluminum Cans BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The five teenagers accused of beating an 81-year-old man to death face a combined 40 felony counts.

It's a crime that District Attorney Ed Jagels calls one of the worst he's ever seen. “This is an unbelievably vicious crime,” Jagels said. “One of the worst that I've encountered.”

During Wednesday's court proceedings, four of them pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, elder abuse, robbery and participation in a street gang. One of the teens has a later court date.

Police said the five boys beat Ezequiel Perez to death in an alley south of Niles Street Saturday morning while he was collecting cans. Police said the teens came back and beat the man a second time after initially beating him. They also said several of the man’s belongings were found at the home of one of the teens. Police confirmed that the teens also stole the man's aluminum cans after beating him.

Related Blog: Are Gang Kids Out Of Control In Bakersfield?

An eyewitness to the beating said the teens are no strangers to violence in their east Bakersfield neighborhood.

One witness who has come forward said at least one of the teens “shot our house a couple times with a BB gun.” The witness said he saw the group of five boys beat Ezequiel Perez to death and that he's sickened by the attackers' behavior and should have helped. The witness would not appear on camera.

According to officials, Demetris King, 15; Nathaniel Johnson, 14; and Christopher Jones, 14, can be tried as adults. They face life in prison if convicted.

Jones' mother says he was an innocent bystander. “He don't even know them boys,” said Marilyn Jones.

The other two teens, William Wandick, 13, and Robert Smith, 13, must be tried as minors under state law.

If convicted, each could be in custody until they turn 25.

Tags: 40, 5, Accused, Combined, Counts, Felony, Of, Teens

Comment by king on June 19, 2008 at 9:04pm: What is this world turning into. damn some people just need to start living right...damn

Comment by Knowledgelevel on June 19, 2008 at 11:55pm: put the under the jail

Comment by Lacretia aka Nay Nay on June 20, 2008 at 1:47am: Dang...some kids just dong have anything else to do...

Comment by king status on June 20, 2008 at 2:16am: They deserve the maximum. Kids that think they're adults should be treated as such. Since when does trying to be "gangster" take presedence over success? Hmm...

Comment by Stikk-Mann on June 20, 2008 at 10:21am: none of them can vote, so how are they adults- when u start letting 12 & 13 yearolds go to work, drive, get license, etc... then i'll understand- this shyt is one sided- EITHER TURN THE LEGAL OF OF GROWN TO 13 OR FOLLOW THE LAW BECAUSE FUKK HOW U FEEL, THEY ARE JUVIES---------- AND THESE BUMS OUTTA CONTROL THESE DAYS, FIND OUT WHAT PROVOKED THAT SHYT... I WOULD FREE ALL OF THEM WHEN THEY TURN 25

Comment by Latonio on June 20, 2008 at 11:41am: if you 14 and you murder someone just imagine what the lil nigga would do when they grown

the guy above me doesnt make sense
what can an elderly man do to provoke a beaten from a gang of 14 year olds?

Comment by dayellowone on June 20, 2008 at 1:19pm: stikk-mann ....you are so wrong.if you kill for any reason other than protection you automatically should be tried as an adult..you know right from wrong by the age of 5.and you said bums are out of control..wtf..they shouldnt even have been around him then. we need more after school programs!

Comment by DAME TSEDEQ(SADEEK) on June 20, 2008 at 5:02pm: Somebody needs to be beating their parents ass for not knowing what the fuck they bad ass kids is doing

Comment by Quinton on June 20, 2008 at 5:11pm: As black people we gotta raise our kids better and as black males we gotta stop putting ourselves in fucjed up situations

Comment by Mikeno on June 20, 2008 at 10:18pm: I agree wit Stikk.. where does it stop.. yeah its seriously fucked up.. but we cant keep tryin kids as adults all of the time.. with proper guidance these kids can actually contribute to society instead of being property of the state for the rest of their natural lives.. some of yall need to act like you know.. they still kids..