NEWBURY PARK : Youths Deny Guilt in Shooting Into Home

Two teen-agers suspected of shooting more than 30 bullets into the home of a pregnant Newbury Park woman last October entered not-guilty pleas Wednesday.

Danny Duarte, 17, and William Morris, 18, denied charges of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied dwelling and conspiracy--all filed after the pair allegedly shot up the wrong house in an apparent retaliation attack.

A judge earlier decided to treat both suspects, who were 17 at the time of the incident, as adults.

A third suspect, a 15-year-old boy who accompanied the older youths, is being prosecuted as a minor in the juvenile court system.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kim G. Gibbons said the victim has recovered from the immediate effects of a gunshot to the leg, but long-term damage still exists.

“She has substantially recovered from her wounds, but she still has numbness in her leg where she was shot,” Gibbons said.

“She’s a runner, and she still has pain in her leg, so she can’t jog.”

Morris remains in custody, but Duarte has been released on $20,000 bail, Gibbons said.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell scheduled a May 26 jury trial for the two suspects.