Laguna alumnus sentenced in 2012 fatal stabbing

A Laguna Beach High School graduate was sentenced Friday to 16 years to life in state prison for the 2012 murder of a man who also had roots in the city.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney ordered Ryan Taylor Bright, 29, to prison after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder in December, Los Angeles County district attorney’s office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said.

On July 11, 2012, Jensen Gray, 27, was stabbed multiple times at a Santa Monica apartment, police said.

Bright and Gray, also a Laguna Beach High alumnus, had known each other for several years and were with Bright’s 21-year-old girlfriend and a 17-year-old girl the night of the stabbing.

Witnesses testified that Bright had been drinking and became more aggressive as the night progressed, Deputy Dist. Atty. Heather Steggell said. Gray had also been drinking, defense attorney Andrew Flier said.

Bright’s companions locked him out of the apartment at one point. Bright hopped over a wall and entered through another door and grabbed the 17-year-old girl by the neck, Steggell said.

Gray tried to pull Bright off the girl and Bright then placed Gray in a headlock. The two fell to the ground, and Bright stabbed Gray with a knife, Steggell said.

Dabney denied Flier’s motion to reduce the charge from second-degree murder to manslaughter.

Flier said he was “disappointed” and had a “sour taste” in his mouth regarding the sentence.

“There was insufficient evidence to convict for second-degree murder,” Flier said.

After finding Bright not guilty of first-degree murder, the jury deliberated for three days and at one point was locked at an 8-4 vote, Flier said.

“I’m disappointed [that Dabney] didn’t declare a mistrial,” Flier said. “I believe we could have resolved the case before a retrial.”