Documents kept sealed in murder case
By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

Search warrants and arrest reports for Calvin Sharp, the man accused of killing 6-year-old Sev'n Molino with a meat cleaver last August, continue to be sealed from the public at the request of both prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Chief Dep. Public Defender Michael C. McMahon said the documents include information that, if made public, could affect Sharp's ability to get a fair trial.

"We may have to ask for a change of venue if it is hard to find a fair and impartial jury," said McMahon.

Prosecutors say making the documents public could affect the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

According to McMahon, police trying to get a search warrant throw a lot of information into their official request and often include opinions about topics on which they lack expertise.

Among the information in the sealed documents are investigating officers' opinions concerning potential mental defenses at trail, McMahon said.

Sharp, 28, is scheduled to be arraigned on May 12. He is accused of murdering Sev'n on Aug. 12 in the 1800 block of W. Hillcrest Drive in Newbury Park. A Ventura County coroner's report stated Sev'n died of sharp-force head trauma.

The boy's mother, Sandra Ruiz, 33, was seriously injured during the attack. Also seriously injured was Dianne Cox, 53, whose intervention stopped the attack, according to witnesses.

After police subdued Sharp at the scene with a Taser gun, he was arrested on suspicion of one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He's been in custody at Ventura County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

The fourth postponement of the arraignment was made by the court in January to give defense lawyers more time to prepare. Public defense attorney Todd Howeth told the court that an evaluation of Sharp was needed.

Ventura County prosecutors have not announced whether or not they will seek the death penalty in this case.