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Guilty plea in 3 drug killings
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Ernesto Charles Hall of Oxnard has pleaded guilty in Ventura County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the drug-related slayings of three people in the summer of 2003.
Hall was a co-defendant with Ivan Dean Stine of Bakersfield in two of the slayings the killings of Larry Joseph Barrios, 37, of Ventura on July 11, 2003; and of Jorge Lopez Cervantes, 28, of Camarillo on Aug. 16, 2003.
Hall, 30, also pleaded guilty Monday to robbery and weapon charges and to committing a crime for the benefit of the Colonia Chiques, a criminal street gang, according to prosecutor John West.
Hall is facing up to 61 years in prison when he is sentenced June 15. West said Hall must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
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More from Local NewsOn Monday, Hall also admitted to his role in the robbery and shooting of drug dealer Karl Wenrich of Oxnard in 2003. Wenrich died a year later.
West said Hall wasn't the actual killer in any of the homicides. Hall represented himself in court. Attorneys had commented on how articulate and well-prepared he was during court hearings.
Stine, 34, is facing murder charges in connection with the killings of Barrios and Cervantes, along with special allegations including lying in wait, committing a crime for the purpose of financial gain and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang, according to prosecutors.
West refused to say whether Hall would testify against Stine as part of the plea agreement.
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