Jury returns mixed verdicts in Ontario SUV murder trial

UPDATE at 4:53 p.m.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A man who drove his SUV into a crowd outside an Ontario house party, killing one, was convicted by a jury this afternoon of voluntary manslaughter, but found not guilty of more serious charges including murder and six counts of attempted murder.

Keith Ray Russworm, 22, of Corona will face a state prison term of up to 11 years when he is sentenced on July 17 in West Valley Superior Court.

Prosecutors charged Russworm with one count of murder and six counts of attempted murder for the June 23, 2007 incident that resulted in the death of Alejandro Ochandorena, 58.

Russworm, his girlfriend and four others attended a house party the night of the incident in the 2700 block of South Arcadian Shores Road in Ontario.

But they left within minutes after a group of drunken partygoers began arguing with Russworm and his friends.

Prosecutors accused Russworm of deliberately driving his Chevrolet Suburban into a group assembled in front of the house, killing Ochandorena and injuring at least six others.

Russworm's defense attorney, Dan Mangan, told jurors that Russworm was in fear for his life after the partygoers threw bottles at his car and yelled racial slurs.

Russworm accidentally hit the group as he was trying to leave the party, Mangan said.

After about two days of deliberations, the jury acquitted Russworm today on all charges related to the attempted murder counts, and convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, a more lenient charge related to the murder count.

Following the verdicts, Russworm's father, Keith Russworm Sr., said he and his family were hoping the jury would return with a full acquittal in the case.

"I'm certainly glad they didn't come back (guilty) for murder," the father said.

Russworm Sr. said his son had never been arrested or in trouble with the law prior to the incident at the party, and said he hopes his son receives the minimum sentence -- probation.

If Russworm is sentenced to prison, the statute for voluntary manslaughter calls for a term of three years, six years, or 11 years.

He has been in custody for nearly two years since his arrest, and if he is sentenced to prison his time in custody will be deducted from his prison term.