Jurors Convict Suspect In Security Guard Murder

A 20-year-old reputed Palm Springs gang member was convicted today of first-degree murder in the fatal beating and robbery of a security guard.

Jerrett Lewis faces life in prison without parole if convicted in the June 9, 2007, attack on Bower Security Co. guard Wallace Brown near Rosa Parks Road and El Dorado Boulevard.

The seven-woman, five-man jury received the case late Wednesday afternoon following nearly a week of testimony.

Murder and other charges were dismissed Monday against one of Lewis’ three co-defendants, Akil Williams, when a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to hand his case over to the jury.

Also charged in Brown’s death and awaiting trial is Darius Lee, 21, who faces the death penalty if convicted.

A fourth defendant, Jamar Thomas, 21, was convicted in April for his role in the beating. A jury has recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors allege the four were dressed in the colors of the Gateway Posse Crips street gang at a Valero gas station on Rosa Parks Road shortly before the beating.

They hurled rocks at Brown’s van, shattering the windows, before pulling the 66-year-old guard from the vehicle and beating him for his wallet and cell phone, according to Deputy District Attorney Manny Bustamante.

Brown, a retired Marine, died at a hospital three days later without regaining consciousness.

Jurors heard Lewis admit in a police interview aired in court that he was at the scene of the beating.

Bustamante said Lewis gave different versions of the events, ranging from him not being involved to hitting the guard twice.

Lewis’ attorney, Jose Rojo, asked the panel to look carefully at the context of those statements, as not all of them were true.

Lewis did not have any prior contacts with law enforcement before the attack and never admitted he was a member of the Gateway Posse Crips, according to Rojo.