Man indicted in child's slaying

Calvin Sharp, 28, has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly killing 6-year-old Sev'n Molina with a meat cleaver outside the boy's Newbury Park apartment last August.

Chief Dep. District Attorney Mike Frawley said the main charge was the murder of the child with the use of a deadly weapon, with two special circumstances: The murder was committed at the time of a burglary and with felony mayhem.

"A burglary is entering a residence with the intent to do any kind of felony- not just to steal something," Frawley explained.

Other felony charges include two counts of aggravated mayhem and two counts of attempted murder allegedly committed against Sandra Ruiz, the boy's mother and Dianne Cox, a neighbor at the apartment. Witnesses to the attack said both women were severely injured as they tried to stop Sharp and protect the boy.

Witnesses had to appear before the grand jury to testify, Frawley said.

According to prosecutors, Sharp is also charged with felony cruelty for allegedly killing his own dog, Knuckles.

Sharp's arraignment in Superior Court is scheduled for May 29. He's being held in jail without bail, Frawley said.

Though the charges allow it, prosecutors haven't decided whether they're going to seek the death penalty in this case, Frawley said.

- Nancy Needham