OJAI : Killer’s Prison Term Reduced by 2 Years

A 19-year-old Ojai man convicted of killing another man with an ice pick had two years whittled from his 14-year sentence, a defense attorney said Thursday.

Judge James M. McNally granted a motion to dismiss a charge of possession of marijuana against Ryan Dale Burchell, who pleaded guilty in June to manslaughter rather than face a murder charge, Deputy Public Defender Todd W. Howeth said.

Burchell was sentenced last month to 14 years in state prison for killing 19-year-old Jasper Fitzgerald of Ohio at a weekend party in Ojai in May.

But two years of the sentence were imposed because the stabbing occurred while Burchell was out on bail on the unrelated marijuana charge. Those two years, however, were stayed by Judge Charles R. McGrath at Burchell’s manslaughter sentencing because the drug charge was dismissed.

The ruling Thursday by McNally means that Burchell is slated to serve 12 years.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Isa Sawasaki was not available Thursday for comment.

Burchell will serve his prison term at the California Youth Authority until his 25th birthday, at which time he will be transferred to a state prison.