Accessory in Slaying Over Stereo Draws 6-Month Sentence
SANTA ANA — A Tustin man was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to his role in the slaying of a 14-year-old boy over a stereo.
Christopher Sieple, 24, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and to receiving stolen property. Orange County Superior Court Judge David O. Carter gave Sieple three years’ probation after he serves the jail sentence.
Sieple is the fifth person who has been convicted or pleaded guilty to having a hand in the May 17 slaying of Carl Dan Claes of Tustin. Authorities said was shot to death after a dispute over a stereo he had lent to one of the suspects, Tommy Miller, 16.
Miller and Jason Merritt, who has since turned 18, will be tried as adults. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Kyle Sieple previously pleaded guilty to the same charges as his brother Christopher.
Another 15-year-old boy was convicted in Juvenile Court last week as an accessory after the fact, and two 17-year-old boys are to be sentenced in Juvenile Court this week on related charges.
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