by Timothy Rutt
Masha Ashaz Dean, 27, was convicted today of an Altadena murder, kidnapping, and child endangerment following a Superior Court trial in downtown Los Angeles.
Dean was charged with killing Monroe Miles, Jr., in Altadena in 2007. According to a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Dean faces a possible state prison term of life with possibility of parole.
According to the district attorney, Dean and Vanessa Marie Ochoa, also 27, kidnapped Ochoa's then-four year-old son, who was staying with Miles (his uncle) and the boy's grandparents on March 18, 2007. MIles was shot to death during the kidnapping.
Dean and Ochoa fled to Las Vegas and were arrested with the boy two days later. Ochoa pleaded guilty to manslaughter, kidnapping, and child endangerment and testified during Dean's trial. She is to be sentenced on April 9.
Deputy District Attorney Tamu Usher of the Family Violence Division said that the jury, which deliberated two and a half days, found Dean guilty of second-degree murder after finding her not guilty of first-degree murder. The murder count with handgun carries a 40 years-to-life state prison term, according to the district attorney.
Dean is scheduled to be sentenced by trial judge Lance Ito on April 11.
