TWO SCOTTS VALLEY TEENS WON’T BE FACING TIME IN STATE PRISON FOR THEIR ROLES IN A RECENT BREAK-IN. YESTERDAY, WHEN THEIR PRELIMINARY HEARING WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE, 18 YEAR-OLDS RYAN ESTRADA AND DAVID JOHNSTON ADMITTED THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE THEFT OF SEVERAL WEAPONS AND OTHER PROPERTY FROM A SCOTTS VALLEY HOME LAST MAY. BECAUSE THEY “TOOK RESPONSIBILITY” FOR THEIR ACTIONS, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE PAUL BURDICK DECIDED THAT HE WON’T BE SENTENCING THEM TO PRISON TIME, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD STILL FACE UP TO A YEAR IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL. THE FIREARMS THAT WERE TAKEN IN THAT BURGLARY ARE STILL OUTSTANDING.
THE BOYS TOLD THE JUDGE THAT THEY LEFT THEM IN 2 CASES OFF LOCKHART GULCH ROAD, BUT WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WENT THERE THEY DID NOT FIND THE WEAPONS.
ESTRADA IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING UNIVERSITY IN SALEM OREGON, AND JOHNSTON IS GOING TO SCHOOL AT CABRILLO COLLEGE.
