Second Teen Found Guilty in Oxnard Church Murder
A teenager has been found guilty of first-degree murder for his role in killing a man outside an Oxnard church last year.
Both teens involved in the attack have now been held accountable, more than a year after the case first shocked the community.
What the Court Determined
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced the verdict on June 26, finding that the now-16-year-old defendant committed willful, deliberate, and premeditated first-degree murder, according to KTLA's reporting on the case.
The victim, Davy Glen Pichel, 67, was found dead outside St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Oxnard on June 5, 2025. The attack itself took place the previous evening, when the defendant was 14 years old.
A second teen, also 14 at the time, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in January 2026 and was sentenced to the maximum base term of seven years in the Secured Youth Treatment Facility.
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How the Case Was Built
Surveillance footage from the church's security system formed the central evidence presented at trial.
The footage showed Pichel seated near the church entrance, next to his wheelchair, when the two teens approached and began attacking him, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
A church volunteer discovered Pichel's body the following day. He was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics, prompting an investigation by the Oxnard Police Department that led to both teens being identified and arrested within two days.
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What Happens at Sentencing
A sentencing hearing for the second teen is scheduled for July 13 at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard, where he faces the same maximum base term as his co-defendant: seven years in the Secured Youth Treatment Facility.
Under California law, a juvenile convicted of murder can be committed to that facility for a term of four to seven years, regardless of how serious the underlying crime was found to be. The juvenile court's jurisdiction over the case extends only until the person turns 25, the DA's Office said.
That structure means both teens, now found responsible through different routes — one by guilty plea, one by verdict — face sentencing limits set by their age at the time of the crime rather than by the severity of what occurred.
What the District Attorney Said
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko framed the verdict as the close of the accountability process for this case, while being careful not to overstate what it can deliver to the victim's loved ones.
"Today's verdict ensures that both juveniles have now been held accountable for Mr. Pichel's murder," Nasarenko said. "While no court outcome can restore the life that was taken, we hope this result provides Mr. Pichel's loved ones with a measure of justice."
The teens' identities have not been released, consistent with standard protections for defendants who were minors at the time of the offense.
Key Takeaways
- A 16-year-old has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the June 2025 killing of Davy Glen Pichel, 67, outside an Oxnard church.
- A second teen, also 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty in January 2026 and received the maximum base term of seven years.
- The case was built on church security footage showing the attack, which led to both teens' arrest within two days.
- A sentencing hearing for the second teen is set for July 13 at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard.
- Under California law, juvenile murder sentences are capped at four to seven years, with court jurisdiction ending at age 25.
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James Mitchell has covered US and UK politics for over a decade, with a focus on elections, foreign policy, and Capitol Hill. He breaks down complex political stories into clear, fast analysis.
