Voluntary manslaughter gets woman 6 years

Deepa Bharath

SANTA ANA -- A 41-year-old Newport Beach woman who pleaded guilty to

voluntary manslaughter for killing her husband by running him over twice

with their car was sentenced Thursday to six years in state prison.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey denied defense

attorney William Kelley’s request to sentence his client to probation or

three years in prison.

Leslie Van Houten, no relation to her namesake involved in the Charles

Manson trial, was arrested Feb. 2, 2000, on suspicion of murder.

Authorities said she argued earlier that day with her allegedly abusive

husband, 52-year-old Kenneth Jerome, at their trailer park on West 15th

Street.

The couple was fighting about who should take their purple Geo Storm,

officials said. When they could not agree, Van Houten took the car and

drove it into Jerome as he was riding his bike. Witnesses told police

that she accelerated the car in reverse and ran him over as he lay in the

street.

Last year, Van Houten pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, but in

June she took a deal from the Orange County district attorney by pleading

guilty to the voluntary manslaughter charge.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn Carlisle-Raines, who prosecuted the case,

said Thursday that she is satisfied with the judge’s sentence.

She said the allegations of spousal abuse added another dimension to

the case.

“It’s unfortunate someone chose to take law in their own hands instead

of seeking legal alternatives,” she said.

She said Van Houten’s motives were “mixed.”

“There were a number of factors,” Carlisle-Raines said. “That includes

understandable human emotions such as anger and rage.”

Van Houten and her husband were married 17 years and lived in the same

house, but they “were miserable,” Kelley said.

“He was a chronic abuser,” he said. “He has had a history of domestic

violence and drug abuse.”

Kelley said his client was “extremely satisfied” with the sentence.

“You don’t walk away sad from something like this, but you’re not

ecstatic about it either.” he said.

Van Houten received credit for 660 days she has already served in

prison. She is expected to be released in about four years.