Plea Bargain Taken in Party Slaying Case

A former Buena High School student pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon for killing one man and critically injuring another at a birthday party in Ventura last year.

Juan Flores, 18, was set to stand trial on the charges when he changed his not-guilty plea. In return, prosecutors dropped additional assault charges and related allegations, defense attorney James M. Farley said.

Flores is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 5.

Authorities say that on Nov. 23, 1996, Flores argued with another man and was asked to leave the Ventura party, at which point he pulled a handgun.

During a struggle for the weapon, several shots were fired and two people were hit in the chest.

Luis Carlos Romero, a 23-year-old painter and Oxnard College student, was killed. Herman Charles Fields, a 45-year-old Ventura resident, was critically injured.

Prosecutors say Flores fled with four other friends, several of whom testified during his preliminary hearing in April.