John Wesley Ewell
Over the last decade, John Wesley Ewell advocated for reform of California’s tough three-strikes law. Now he sits in a Los Angeles County jail charged with murdering four people in a string of home invasion robberies committed in the fall of 2010. Court records show that prosecutors had the chance to seek lengthy prison sentences for Ewell before his arrest on suspion of murder.
Under the state’s three-strikes law, Ewell, who had two robbery convictions dating to the 1980s, was eligible for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence if he was convicted of another felony, no matter how minor. But the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office decided on four occasions against seeking the maximum sentence when Ewell was charged with new crimes.
In addition, Ewell was allowed to remain out on bail while charged with three separate theft cases in 2010. Prosecutors note that Ewell was charged with relatively minor property crimes and that there was no way to predict he would turn to violence. Ewell has pleaded not guilty in the murder case.
To see a map of Ewell’s alleged victims, visit The Times’ Homicide Report.
— Jack Leonard and Richard Winton
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John Wesley Ewell was convicted of two robberies in the 1980s, making him eligible later for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence under the state’s 1994 three-strikes law. His first robbery conviction occurred in 1985. Ewell and another man were accused of robbing a female jogger who had been checking her bank balance at an ATM. Ewell pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 270 days in jail.
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John Wesley Ewell’s second strike conviction occurred in 1989, when a jury found him guilty of robbery. He and two others were charged with robbing a motorist in an alley. Ewell allegedly told the victim: “Don’t move if you don’t want to be hurt,” before binding the man’s hands and taking his wallet, watch and truck. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
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The 1988 robbery victim testified at a preliminary hearing that he was robbed by several people while parked in his truck in an alley, and identified John Wesley Ewell as one of the robbers. He said Ewell told him not to move if he didn’t want to get hurt and took his wallet, watch and his keys before driving off in his truck.
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In January 1995, John Wesley Ewell was charged with check forgery . Under the 1994 three-strikes law, Ewell was eligible for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence if he was convicted. But the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office agreed to a plea deal in which Ewell was sentenced to seven years in prison.
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In February 2010, John Wesley Ewell was arrested on suspicion of stealing from a Home Depot store. He was charged with second-degree commercial burglary and petty theft with a prior, felonies that made him eligible for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence under the three-strikes law. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office did not seek the maximum sentence, the second time that the office had used its discretion not to seek ...
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In July 2010, John Wesley Ewell was arrested for the second time that year for allegedly stealing from a Home Depot store. He was charged with grand theft of personal property, a felony that made him eligible for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence under the three-strikes law. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office did not seek the maximum sentence, the third time that the office had used its discretion not ...
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In August 2010, John Wesley Ewell was arrested on suspicion of stealing from a Home Depot store, the third time he had been accused of theft that year. The following month, prosecutors charged him with grand theft of personal property and second-degree commercial burglary, felonies that made him eligible for a 25-years-to-life prison sentence under the three-strikes law. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office did not seek the maximum ...
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