Sharp pleads insanity in death of boy, 6

Calvin Sharp A man accused of killing a 6year-old boy with a meat cleaver pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during his Ventura County Superior Court arraignment.

Calvin Sharp, 29, has been in jail without bail on murder and other felony charges since August 2007, when he was accused of killing Sev'n Molina and slashing the boy's mother, Sandra Ruiz, 33, and neighbor Dianne Cox with a meat cleaver.

Witnesses said Cox tried to stop the alleged attack outside an apartment building in Newbury Park.

On March 17, Sharp entered two not guilty pleas, one by reason of insanity after he also entered a plea of not guilty, denying all of the special allegations.

Because of the second insanity plea, if Sharp is found guilty, the court would have to determine if he is not guilty because of insanity.

Sharp was indicted in May 2008 by a grand jury on a charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with two special circumstances: the murder was committed at the time of a burglary and in the course of felony mayhem.

He's also charged with felony cruelty to an animal, stemming from the alleged killing of his own dog, Knuckles, prosecutors said.

The special circumstances allegations allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Sharp, but a decision about that hasn't yet been made.

Superior Court Judge Steven Hintz appointed two mental health professionals to examine Sharp, and he set July 15 as the trial date.

—Nancy Needham