Gang Member Pleads Guilty
UPDATED January 26, 2010:
Fidel Duran was sentenced to nine years in prison for reportedly admitting to the charge of attempted murder. On Jan. 25, 2010, Rutilio Huerta was sentenced to six months in county jail for battery and criminal street gang activity.
By Lenny Roberts
Almost 11 months after a near-fatal stabbing incident on Waite Street, one man has pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and another has been arrested for his complicity in the crime.
No stranger to law-enforcement, 19-year-old Fidel Duran admitted last week that he stabbed 28-year-old Joshua Powers as he walked home from a New Year’s Eve party at 1:45 a.m. Jan. 1. Duran was arrested in June following a five-month investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit.
According to authorities, Powers was stabbed 17 times as he lay on the ground after being confronted by Duran and 20-year-old Rutilio Huerta, who was arrested last week. In a statement issued by Major Crimes Sgt. Bill Schierman, the suspects fled, leaving Powers lying unconscious. A short time later, an anonymous person reported seeing Powers lying in the street. Powers was transported to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital where he spent several days after nearly succumbing to his injuries.
Duran was booked for attempted murder and street terrorism. Special allegations of using a deadly weapon, causing great bodily injury during the commission of a felony, and the commission of a felony for benefit of a street gang were subsequently added.
Huerta was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on preliminary charges of battery and participating in street gang activity. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing.
Powers’ grandfather, Ojai resident Walter Powers, said his grandson has recovered well from his injuries, but has some remaining nerve damage in his hand. “We want to thank the city and people for supporting Josh,” the elder Powers said.
Walter Powers commented on published comments about his grandson being in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time:’ “We don’t have a wrong place or wrong street in Ojai. They were on the wrong street and now they’re in the right place — in jail.”
Lets hope he goes away for a very very long time. I think life would suffice.
billfusion
24 Nov 09 at 7:16 pm
life ??? u should only get life if u take a life… were not in the place to take a life … that’s acting just like mr duran 10 to 20 should be just fine
geez ojai....
24 Nov 09 at 10:00 pm
If you intentionally take a life other than in self defense, you should fry. Period.
This crime however is violent and hideious enough to warrant a life sentence for both individuals.
coach mike
25 Nov 09 at 12:16 am
Geez,
What other idiotic laws do you want to put on the books?
Ret. Lieut. John Doe
Truth Coalition
John Doe
25 Nov 09 at 12:48 am
You should get life if you TRY to take a life. Thankfully Duran did not do a good job. Most likely being an under achiever is the story of his sorry life.
new yorker
25 Nov 09 at 12:10 pm
new yorker,
Your style is improving. Keep up the good work!
Ret. Lieut. John Doe
Truth Coalition
John Doe
25 Nov 09 at 1:00 pm
First,I would like to thank the person who stood up and made just a call that saved my son’s life before he bleed to death.I am thankful for all authorities that keep doing there job and please don’t stop. And acourse Ojai & Ventura Hospitals. As a mother I had to watch my son on life support and almost die. Trust me that feeling is more pain than I have ever endured in my life.I wish it on no one. As for anyone pledging guilty or not,they deserve to sit for the rest of their life in a cell and think about how lucky they are to be alive. I think they deserve nothing less than they tried to give my son. I am not saying death, but enough time than what they are looking at. They robbed him also, so where are the charges on that? They should feel lucky they didn’t recieve Prop.8 which stats no violent offender would be given a plea bargain or hardy wavier or deal of any kind when you are a violent offender. Which I believe they are now. I hope they feel lucky. I believe in eye for an eye, as if my son did this to anyone, then he would deserve the same in my eyes.I can forgive, but I just wished I could forget.
Mother of Powers
25 Nov 09 at 1:39 pm
Fidel Duran committed a crime so horrific that he should be treated like the animal he has shown himself to be and receive the death penalty. Duran’s parents should also be sued for everything they have for raising such an animal.
Enough
25 Nov 09 at 2:46 pm
Is Fidel Duran any relation to the Duran woman who was arrested a week or so ago on Oak Street? Meth charges etc.
Pops
25 Nov 09 at 3:20 pm
Mother Of Powers I too have watched a child on life support and almost die (twice). It was horrendeous but not due to violence. I cannot imagine watching that horror as well as knowing it was caused by another human being. Stay strong throughout the trial and God bless you.
new yorker
25 Nov 09 at 3:30 pm
Wow! I can remember walking the streets of Ojai when I was a teen, stuff like this never happened, I can’t believe the stuff I hear now or read, sounds more like Oxnard.
Ex-Ojain
25 Nov 09 at 4:24 pm
Enough,As far as I know Duran’s parents arent even involved in his life. Maybe thats why he is so screwed up! As for Mother Of Powers I know how it feels like to see someone you love on life support. It is the worst thing ever and no one can say they understand unless they have been through it themselves. Just be thankful your son is alive and recovering.
Anonymous
25 Nov 09 at 7:40 pm
Anonymous, that is BS. He was raised by parents who must take responsibility for who he has become. They should be SUED.
New Yorker
25 Nov 09 at 8:28 pm
As Joshua’s grandma I have seen 2 of my sons and now my grandson on life support. The worst thing I could ever endure was to watch someone I love and care for suffering and not be able to help them. When womeone attacks a person, they also attack everyone who loves him. Do we live in a jungle or in Ojai? Being locked up and put away is the only place they belong! Do these bullies think they are brave and powerful? I would say they are cowards! I would say they are doing evil. They don’t belong in a civilized community. They belong in a cage like in the zoo! Young people, please respect life! Live it well.
Joshua’s grandma,
Ojai, Ca.
Grace
25 Nov 09 at 10:53 pm
No one has mention that Joshua was shouting white power and he is the one who had the knife.
al
26 Nov 09 at 10:29 am
Im sorry New Yorker do you know Duran? I personally know him and know his parents werent involved in his life when he was growing up. That is probably why he is so screwed up and I hope both of them get what they deserve!
Anonymous
26 Nov 09 at 2:52 pm
al,
was he shouting white power? and was it his knife?? were you even there???
Are you going to the sentencing and tell the judge its not fair, Josh was yelling white power, therefor Duran and the rest were just defending themselves??
If that is a fact than add hate crime to the charges..
Yes yes I know hate crimes ONLY apply to whitey, because the white man is the only species that has hate while committing a crime…
Okay so let me get this strait Joshua was running up and down Waite st waving a knife around and screaming white power, and what were Duran and the others doing, calling the police? fearing for their lives??, no of course not.
Hate crime laws are B.S. if you really want to stop violent crime, start handing out 10yr sentences for every person that was present AND participating, NOT based on the color of the attackers or the victim’s skin.
BTW: Huge difference between trying to murder someone and trying to permanently disable someone, “homies” even have a phrase for that, “your going on a disabled list”, is to render one helpless for future victimization.(earliest known use by the crips and bloods)
I hate to reopen this wound however, Seth was not stabbed 17 times, it does not take that much to kill someone.
Stabbing someone 17 times and not mortally wounding them is like a cop, shooting a suspect several times in the leg after they have surrendered.
It is sadistic (IMHO).
According to:
geez ojai….
24 Nov 09 at 10:00 pm
Duran should not be charged with murder because of the eye 4 an eye etc..
How do you administer the correct punishment in this case near paralyzation, without conflicting with the cruel and unusual punishment law???
Tom Anderson
26 Nov 09 at 7:31 pm
all u people that say u know duran are all crap his parents where in his life …. his mother died when he was just a few months old due to diabetes and his father works hard to support him and his son …. so that means long hours …. so he couldent see everthing his son did but don’t sit there and say his parents weren’t there for him … and no parent can control a child 24/7 exspeaical a single father so stop blaming his parents……
????
26 Nov 09 at 8:11 pm
Al, you are wrong! Josh was trained to love all people while he was growing up. He is part indian. He was walking along thinking about his new baby about to be born. He was feeling mellow and going home to his wife. Everyone is trying to blame everything for this crime. The place where it happened, Josh for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Duran’s parents, race, etc. etc. The blame rests where it belongs and sentence has been passed Let the healing begin!
Josh’s grandma
Grace
27 Nov 09 at 3:17 pm
Arrest illegals and their anchor babies and there will be no more crime in Ojai. The law is the LAW.
Rush Limbaugh rules
27 Nov 09 at 7:16 pm
Okay al, Please explain to me as his mother? Seeing you know so much. I would like to hear your version of the story maybe the D.A.too, because you seemed to know so much that you must have been on Waite Street. What were you doing at the time he was stabbed? Because if you know so much you must have seen it. Did you tell the police your version of who did what? Didn’t think so… Why didn’t you call 911 if your such a good concerned citizen? How would you know what he was saying or carrying on him? And let me tell you something al, my son might not be perfect, but nobody is, but do you think that he is ignorant to even shout or wave a knife around. If it was his knife does that mean it’s okay to kill him? Trust me, my son was happy as can be after finding out he 15 hours prior to this he was going to be a father. And he was robbed of everything if you didn’t read my comment. I would say that is Strong Arm Robbery seeing taken by force and harming my son. Since this happened, I have said nothing except the comment you see above and as time passes and we try to pick ourselves up and keep going. But my family knows that these people have to face a jugde first. And then one day a higher court will stand in and God will be the last one to judge them. Then I will be able to rest knowing it is in Gods hands.
Mother of Powers
27 Nov 09 at 7:28 pm
WHY DOES THE VCSD NOT INVESTIGATE PROPERTIES THAT THEY KNOW ARE HARBORING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DRUG DEALING GANG MEMBERS? JOSH’S PARENTS SHOULD SUE THE VCSD. THE VCSD ALLOW CRIMINALS TO REGULARLY ROAM THE STREETS, THREATEN VIOLENCE AND SELL DRUGS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. THE VCSD KNOWS WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE YET DO NOTHING TO STOP THEM. JOSH’S PARENTS SHOULD SUE!!! SEVERAL LOCAL LAWYERS WOULD TAKE THE CASE ON CONTINGENCY.
LAWYERS UNITE
27 Nov 09 at 7:35 pm
Joshua’s Grandma noted, “Do we live in a jungle or in Ojai? ”
Interesting question! How will we know the answer?
Tom Anderson noted, “Yes yes I know hate crimes ONLY apply to whitey, because the white man is the only species that has hate while committing a crime…”
Of course, we ALL know that. Thanks for reminding us that only “whitey” can have “hate” while committing a crime. I almost forgot that we are the original and one and only “hate group” out there, and that no other tribes are capable of that. How could I forget that? Must be getting old.
White Tribe Activist
27 Nov 09 at 8:07 pm
You should all come to the realization that Joshua Powers is a known Ave skin head and he has done bad things to people. If your going to lead that kind of life, bad things will eventually happen to you.
Anonymous
28 Nov 09 at 10:42 am
An eye for an eye makes the whole World blind.
Gandhi
28 Nov 09 at 12:20 pm
As usual…it took more than 1 gang member to attack a unharmed regular guy..Duran is a coward… he will become some BIG guy in prison’s..little “darling”..
he will get what he deserves..probably cry his self to sleep every night..
Hope they both suffer…
BadGirl
29 Nov 09 at 2:11 am
And now this? 4 white cops gunned down execution style this morning. Is there no limit to how low these people will go?
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Police-officers-shot-78089882.html
Washington news
29 Nov 09 at 8:04 pm
please clarify. just who is “these people”?
is this white tribe nationalist again?
Wally George
30 Nov 09 at 8:03 am
‘wrong place at the wrong time’? was this a random stabbing? waite street has been known for gang member activity forever. were they just waitng there for anyone to come by so that they could kill? was it a drug deal gone wrong?
anonymous
30 Nov 09 at 12:38 pm
This young man should pay the ultimate price for
this stupid crime,a crime of arrogance and uneducated
misguidance. I don’t think the parents should be
sued but I think they will be forever shamed by the job or lack of the job they have done as parents.
they are more than likely as uneducated as thier son.
bboy12150
30 Nov 09 at 2:26 pm
“they are more than likely as uneducated as thier son.” are they Nordhoff grads? just asking.
? for WTA, You said “I almost forgot that we are the original and one and only “hate group” out there”, referring to “whitey” what if “whitey” where straight and got beat up by a bunch of gays would that be considered a hate crime?
Ex-Ojain
30 Nov 09 at 5:32 pm
NOT Nordhoff grads!
Ojai parent
30 Nov 09 at 10:22 pm
from the posts here it’s easy to see why the usa is a failed state…
Violet Dudley
1 Dec 09 at 8:57 am
from her high horse it will be a far fall to the ground…
John Doe
1 Dec 09 at 12:12 pm
The current civil war between the rich and the poor in
Mexico is being played out at NHS and the rest of the
Ojai Valley.
beach resident
1 Dec 09 at 3:07 pm
Why not publish Duran’s photograph? The Ojai Valley News has regularly published Avary’s photograph. Why not Duran’s??????
RESPONSE: The media is not given mug shots of all arrestees, in particular, juvenile arrestees, despite the fact that Medina may be tried as an adult pending the outcome of a now court-ordered psychiatric investigation.
Give me a break
2 Dec 09 at 11:10 pm
Time for the true American law abiding Ojai folks to stick together protect each other.
Plan
2 Dec 09 at 11:19 pm
This town is crawling w/ net nazi racists!
God have mercy on their souls.
gettapukout
4 Dec 09 at 4:20 am
hahahaHAHAHA fiRSt oF aLL you guys are really lame &have no idea on what you guys are saying haha you guys sound sooo stupid get the story straight
you guys have no idea what happen that night! AND nONE of you know fidel duran jr. and have no idea what REALLy went down sO rEALLy stop trying! AND MY bABE iS gOinG tO bE oUT iN nO tiME sO[=
fiDEls.wiFE!
23 Jan 10 at 3:40 am
fiDels.wiFE- yo baby be out in nine!
whatever
27 Jan 10 at 9:19 am
john doe – the New Yorker on this blog is not the original NY’er that you may think you are being kind to. I haven’t posted in a few months. Someone took my name and I’m confused that the OVN allows this. I’ll have to change my name going forward.
Anonymous
27 Jan 10 at 11:15 am
John Doe – pls be aware that the New Yorker in these posts is not the NY’er that you may think it is. I used to use that name and you and I had some words going back and forth a few times. I haven’t posted anything in months and see that my name was taken. I find it confusing that the OVN would allow this. Anyway, I’ll be chaning my name going forward.
no longer New Yorker
27 Jan 10 at 11:18 am
The knife.El cuchillo (amor a la mexicana). They give it
to you every time. Run for your life gavacho!
Huero
27 Jan 10 at 11:42 am
Nine years?? That’s it?? What a loser.
John Doe
27 Jan 10 at 4:54 pm
9 years isn’t long enough for the animal
anonymous
27 Jan 10 at 9:13 pm
You guys are grown people so act like it! The past is the past. Everyone has a side. Im sure they both said stuff to make the other person sound like the bad person. I knew both guys.. Josh wasnt all that nice when he had a big group of people to back him up and Fidel had a lot of pride with or without people to back him out. So forget it its done. Fidels locked up for now.. Im sure he will finish school there and get out and have a normal life if stupid people dont try and get revenge.. And josh is fine now. Whatever they both learned their lesson. Stop blaming the parents. Im sure joshs parents didnt know what kind of stuff he was in and as for fidel he didnt have a mom and his father was always working to support them. Also why is it you grown ass people always gotta blame the illegals.. Stop..seriously we cant get rid of them so u might as well start learning some spanish.
me.
28 Jan 10 at 8:59 am
We learned Spanish, ese. I grew up here. Want a taco?
Huero
28 Jan 10 at 11:49 am
enough: we are all animals…
anonymous
28 Jan 10 at 12:43 pm
Is Fidel Duran related to Duran Duran?
anonymous
28 Jan 10 at 12:45 pm
There was a guy named Duran in Texas who shot several people. Is Fidel related to him?
anonymous
28 Jan 10 at 12:46 pm
I left Ojai in 1998 and it was the best thing I ever did. Ojai is not the paradise you all think it is. Nordhoff was full of drugs, Meiners Oaks was straight up ghetto, and crime was on the rise. Fidel had half a chance at a decent life and threw it all away for gang affiliation. It’s very sad to see so much violence in what once was a beautiful small town. Good luck to those of you who choose to stay.
glad to be gone
28 Jan 10 at 2:16 pm
glad to be gone, i hate to be the one to break it to you but, there is violence in every single town across america. ojai isn’t exempt because of it’s beautiful location. i will say that the good people of ojai are good at covering up the crime that happens here all of the time, so it seems from the outside that crime doesn’t exist here. the ‘police’ often choose to look the other way. most of the violence and crime is committed within the walls of our cozy houses.
anonymous
28 Jan 10 at 3:50 pm
Everyone in Ojai needs to stop blaming immigrants and mexicans for everyhing that goes wrong!! You are all ignorant and thats why there is so much racism in Ojai. There are just as much white people that screw up as there are mexicans.
young mula.
28 Jan 10 at 10:13 pm
Not one single comment says it was a Mexican! It says a gang member! And Not one comment says anything about Mexicans. Drug dealers and illegals but they aren’t all Mexican.
It seems to me that the only people screaming racism or Mexican slander are the Mexicans.
whatever
29 Jan 10 at 9:11 am
Where have all the good times gone? Employers refuse to
hire whites. Stop going to Meiners Oaks for a “donut” and an “illegal.” This is not funny anymore.
Libbey Park Bum
29 Jan 10 at 9:47 am
“most of the violence and crime is committed within the walls of our cozy houses.”
–anonymous 28 Jan 10 at 3:50 pm
Speak for yourself, as no one has been stabbed in my house.
Going from your comment, it sounds like ppl are committing violent crimes all the time in you’re house.
young mula. 28 Jan 10 at 10:13 pm,
Everyone needs to stop blaming Ojai for all its immigrants and everything that goes wrong around here.
Seriously, Mexicans and immigrants are the victims??
That must be why they only come out in morning and in large groups, they are constantly being accosted by the “racist white man” pulling over and giving them a “job” I’ve seen it, its terrible.
The strange thing is if you are “white” or just not a “day laborer” in this town, the anti-loitering laws are enforced 24/7 but at 4:30am-12:30pm those ordinances are suspended for our southern brothers.
The world bank and the IMF has killed Mexico’s economy and is working very hard to destroy ours, we will all end up in Canada looking for work in no time, then they(WB&IMF) will do it all over again.
Elmer D. Flanagan
29 Jan 10 at 10:14 am
I know a man in town, white mid 40′s doesn’t drink, no drugs. Goes to shoot pool with out of town guests. After the Hub closed two white men and a white woman were WALKING home, watched at least 3 ripped patrons get in their cars and drive off in front of a cop. The Ojai officer spun his car around so fast he screeched his tires and flew into their walking path coming to a hard stop. He asked for ID, where they were going, and if they had been drinking. The white man said “I’m going home and I don’t drink”. The cop looked at all Id’s, handed them back and said “You better be goin home”.
TO A GROWN MAN WHO DOESN”T DRINK! Is there a 40 something curfew? Or just for whites?
whatever
29 Jan 10 at 10:46 am
I agree. There is definately a dual standard at play here. Unfortunately it is not unique to Ojai, nor even the peoples rupublic of california. It’s a nationwide push for anti-white political correctness that’s been force-fed down our throats for years via our pathetic educational instituions as well as main-stream media indoctrination. It’s a blame game that ignores very serious issues and makes excuses for unacceptable behavior based upon someones race or ethnicity. The practice is further perpetuated by pandering politicians for their own personal and political gain, and again far too many are afraid to challenge these elected racists out of fear of being called racist themselves.
…and round and round we go.
Bottom line is that laws need to be enforced. All of them, immigration laws included. No one is above the law.
coach mike
29 Jan 10 at 11:19 am
youu guys shuld seriouslyy shutt thee hell up
if none of you guys were theree..
so before yuh start sayingg thingss get your facts straightt.!.!
Low.LifEss.hahaha..
animalss??okayy (deleted)
LamESS.For realss..
ha hes alomostt outt..
bELLa
1 Feb 10 at 1:50 pm
choowwww Babbyy..
Excitedddd.For Him to Be HomE
bELLa
1 Feb 10 at 1:51 pm
grow up chrisitina. Go cheat on him some more. No ones talking about ur kid anymore. Hes not a man. Hes a kid. He had a small (deleted) anyways.
Anonymous
1 Feb 10 at 3:14 pm
uyse payin my food stamps and wellfair bBaby!!!
bELLa
1 Feb 10 at 3:20 pm
bELLa,
there’s something to be proud of.
Sounds like you’re kids are very lucky..
Joe Friday
1 Feb 10 at 5:05 pm
fidels wife u are just as ignorit as ur “husband” he will be out in no time try when he’s almost thrity and I bet u won’t wait if ur the type of girl that’s with mr duran you’ll probley have 3 or 4 kids by then …. and he is guilty why else would he say he did it huh???? and I just love the way u say the same thing over and over again
"lame"
1 Feb 10 at 8:57 pm
Thats just ignorit!
Michael J.
2 Feb 10 at 10:04 am
when are they going to start throwing gang signs?
OMG
4 Feb 10 at 5:11 pm
hahahahahahahahahahhahah gET a liFE yoU lAMES!
d0 sumthing with ur lifes instead of being stuck on fidel duran yeaah he did it (deleted)…he thought he was hardd being a bitch ass white power lame (deleted) nddd fidel rather be behind bars thenn deadd hahaha! hes laughing at all u sorry asses! this is what he does hes a gang member duhhh!ndd all u guys say to repond 2 this does not faze me oR him 9yrs aint (deleted) he ll b bak nd hes gunna come bakk hARDD soo watch out all u laMES! he backed his (deleted) up nd this lame tryed to runn ..dnt talk ur (deleted) if u cnt bak it upp nd thats exactly wat (deleted) is HA! (deleted) lAMES!
unbelivable
31 Aug 10 at 12:06 am