VENTURA : Man Gets Probation in Beach Shooting

A judge placed a 19-year-old Santa Paula man on three years’ probation for his role in a shooting on a crowded Ventura beach last summer, ending a high-profile but complicated case for prosecutors.

A Superior Court jury acquitted Alejandro Garcia last month of felony assault with a firearm and grossly negligent shooting. He was convicted of four misdemeanors for having a weapon at the beach.

Ventura County Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr. placed Garcia on probation for those offenses--one count each of carrying a loaded weapon and carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of discharging a weapon within city limits.

The shooting occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Aug. 5, when Garcia was confronted by members of a Santa Paula gang at San Buenaventura State Beach, according to court testimony. No one was injured as gunfire rang out from both sides, but about 200 beach-goers had to scurry for cover.

The jury ruled that Garcia had fired his weapon in self-defense. Charges were dropped against two of Garcia’s foes because of a lack of evidence. Garcia’s 19-year-old cousin, John Sosa, still faces a charge of accessory after the fact for allegedly trying to hide Garcia’s gun.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Kim G. Gibbons said he doesn’t expect to continue with that charge since Garcia was acquitted of felony wrongdoing.