In a significant development for the families affected by a tragic 1997 case, Kevin Ray James pleads guilty to the second-degree murder of Monica Leech, a victim of a bank robbery that shocked the Thousand Oaks community. The plea, made almost 28 years after the incident, results in a sentencing range of 19 years to life in state prison, providing some measure of closure for Leech’s family.
The bank robbery occurred on April 28, 1997, when two masked gunmen, including James, fatally shot Leech while stealing over $11,000 from the Western Financial Bank. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office notes that new forensic evidence and investigative leads played a crucial role in identifying James as a perpetrator, allowing law enforcement to finally bring justice in this long-unsolved case.
Read full story at hoodline.com
