Teen suspect to be charged in Oceanside officers slaying, 16-year-old to face charges as an adult

Following this closely. See more below.

>>>16-year-old to face charges as an adult >>>

But if this same 16 year old were to have sex with someone a few years older, he would be a CHILD.

I'm just saying...

Third suspect arrested in officer's slaying 2007/01/06 This is the kid who is being arraigned today.

Oceanside police arrest second teen suspect in officer shooting 2006/12/23 This is the kid arrested for probation violation

Oceanside police hope Internet records lead to 'other suspects' 2007/01/04 This is stuff from Meki's computer.

Third person questioned in officer slaying 2007/01/05 This is when the kid became a person of interest.

Oceanside police arrest second teen suspect in officer shooting 2007/01/05 This is just after the kid said something wrong

These hadn't been posted but they track the events since the funeral. You will see that NCTimes duplicated the story headline twice within two weeks.

Then these will introduce you to Dan Bessant.

Oceanside Mourns loss of Police Officer

The Life of a Fallen Officer

Thanks for posting. Interesting.

Condolences to Officer Dan Bessant's family and friends.

Defendant Meki Gaono, whose face is not shown by order of the judge, is escorted from a Vista courtroom after his arraignment on Tuesday. BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer

VISTA -- A teenager accused of killing an Oceanside police officer last week told investigators that he peered through the telescopic sight of a rifle as he fired on police in the fatal shooting, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Meki Gaono, 17, is accused of gunning down Officer Dan Bessant while the 25-year-old was responding to a call for backup from a fellow officer in the Margarita Mesa neighborhood of northeast Oceanside at about 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20.

Bessant, the father of a 2-month-old boy, was shot in his left armpit and died later that evening. Investigators believe the fatal shot, which struck Bessant near the edge of his bullet-resistant vest, was fired from about a half-block away.

Gaono, who is being charged as an adult, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of murder in connection with the death of Bessant, as well as to two counts of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a second police officer and a civilian who was accompanying police when the attack took place. Superior Court Judge David Brown agreed to set his bail at $5 million.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas Manning said that Gaono told investigators that he is a gang member.

Shackled with waist chains and handcuffs and dressed in an orange T-shirt signifying his status as an inmate at Juvenile Hall, Gaono did not speak during his short arraignment. At least once he glanced toward the crowd. Several of his friends and family members were seated in the back of the courtroom.

Several of Bessant's supporters were also in the courtroom.

After the hearing, Steve Bessant, the father of the slain officer, said his first thought on seeing the teenager accused of killing his son was "compassion."

"My heart goes out to his family and the ordeal they are going through as well," the elder Bessant said. "I hope he can find some redemption in this."

Gaono also faces a special allegation that he killed a police officer, making him eligible for life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Because Gaono was not an adult at the time of the crime ---- his 18th birthday is six weeks away ---- state law prohibits prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty.

The three charges against Gaono include allegations that he used a gun and committed the crime for the benefit of the Oceanside gang to which he belongs.

No charges have been filed against a second suspect, a 16-year-old boy, who was jailed in Juvenile Hall for violating his probation, Manning said. The prosecutor said that suspect also has a "minor" criminal record. No further details were available on the boy.

Bessant, a three-year Police Department veteran, was called to the scene to assist Officer Karina Pina, 28, who had requested backup during what began as a routine traffic stop at Gold Drive and Arthur Avenue. Pina had a woman riding along with her at the time; Manning declined to release the name of the woman.

Manning said Bessant was standing near the back of a patrol car when "a shot rang out." Pina, he said, turned and fired back.

The prosecutor said the shots came from 320 feet away, and that investigators found a number of gun-shell casings at the location.

Gaono "has made statements that he fired a rifle at a police officer (while) using a scope," Manning said.

Manning said he had requested a high bail amount because he considers the teenager "a flight risk."

Manning declined to say if Gaono gave investigators a motive for the shooting. The teenager has a "minimal" criminal record with no past violent crimes, and is a one-time student of El Camino High School who later transferred to a continuation school, Manning said.

Oceanside Unified School District spokeswoman Laura Chalkley said Tuesday that last year Gaono attended Ocean Shores High School, but that he has not attended Ocean Shores this year.

Wayne Godinet, a community activist in the neighborhood, said the Gaono family has been around for quite a while and that this is not a true reflection of the family.

The community is "absolutely outraged," Godinet said. "It's just horrifying to think this could happen."

Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood said that city and law enforcement officials knew that any juvenile charged with murder couldn't face the death penalty, but that "justice will be served."

"It sounds like they have a strong case or they wouldn't have filed charges, but we'll have to wait and see," said Wood, a retired police detective.

Councilman Jack Feller said the adults responsible for any juvenile convicted of a serious crime such as murder should be held accountable as well.

"I feel sorry for the parents (of the boy charged with the murder), but they have tolerated and allowed that type of behavior to thrive," Feller said. "We as a city can't allow that to be acceptable."

A public viewing of Bessant's body is planned for 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Ambassador Church, 1602 S. El Camino Real. Funeral services for Bessant will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the New Venture Christian Fellowship, 4000 Mystra Way in Oceanside.

"Our family lost a great son, husband, brother and dad," Steve Bessant said Tuesday. "The community lost a good cop."

The elder Bessant said his son's widow is "shattered" by the loss. He also thanked a number of people who helped his son after the shooting, including the two fireman he said "drug him to safety and tried the best they could to work on him."

Community support, he said, has been a tremendous help to the family of the policeman who grew up in the coastal community and graduated from Oceanside High School.

"We've not gotten through this on our own," Steve Bessant said, as his 23-year-old son Drew Bessant stood next to him in the courthouse entryway. "It's your prayers that are getting us through.

Bessant is the second Oceanside policeman shot to death in the last 3 1/2 years. Adrian George Camacho, the man convicted of killing the other officer, Tony Zeppetella, now sits on California's Death Row. Camacho was 28 when he killed Zeppetella on June 13, 2003, in a surprise gunbattle that also began as a traffic stop.

Another court hearing in Gaono's case is scheduled for Jan. 9 and a preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 6.

Yes there was a traffic stop. Dan was called for backup.

Read through the links in post 3 to fill out the details.

A search on Oceanside will retrieve the original posts about this happening 12/20/06.

Thousands crowd church for final farewell to cop whose love for Oceanside 'knew no boundaries'

By Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

December 29, 2006 More than the eulogies, the bagpipe, the palpable grief of the slain policeman's widow – it was the picture of big, burly Dan Bessant holding his newborn son that had fellow Oceanside officers weeping openly.

Mourners in a sea of black, blue and khaki uniforms choked back sobs at the mention of Bessant's baby boy, who was cradled in his mother's arms during yesterday's funeral at New Venture Christian Fellowship Church.

CHARLIE NEUMAN / Union-Tribune

The flag was lifted off the coffin of Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant before it was presented to his wife, Katelyn (second from right), at his funeral yesterday.

“A 2-month-old completely unaware that his little world has changed,” said Chris Brown, pastor of North Coast Church where the family worships.

Some 2,000 people paid their final respects to the 25-year-old Oceanside officer in a 90-minute ceremony punctuated with tears and laughter.

“It does matter that Dan left this world way too young,” said Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy. “But in a short time he made a difference in the lives of so many people, and that's what heroes do.

“He had a love for Oceanside that knew no boundaries, and he gave his life to the city that he loved.”

The church sanctuary was standing-room only, with an estimated 1,500 law enforcement officers from around the county and state, and from as far away as Las Vegas and Phoenix.

JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune

Law enforcement officers united in a salute for the Oceanside police officer at New Venture Christian Fellowship Church yesterday in Oceanside.

It was the same church where, three years ago, many of the same officers gathered for the funeral of Oceanside Officer Tony Zeppetella after he was killed on duty.

In the front row sat Bessant's wife, Katelyn, who never left her mother's side as she listened and cried. She was joined by other family members, including Bessant's younger brother, Drew, and father Steve, both pallbearers.

Emotions came tumbling out of those who had never even met the young officer, such as the undercover cop with a shaved head and long goatee who appeared stoic until he let out a loud sob during the 21-gun salute.

Dorothy Camper, who lives across the street, also didn't know the Bessants but wept outside the church.

“I feel so bad for her,” said Camper, a retiree who lost her husband to a heart attack 25 years ago. “Being a widow, I know how she feels.”

CHARLIE NEUMAN
/ Union-Tribune

Family friend Barbara Neault Kelber told the gathering inside that she had watched Bessant grow from a curious, precocious child into a man who had an impulse to protect those he loved.

She also talked about how proud he was the day his son, Wyatt, was born, and how he hovered around his wife.

“When that bullet so unbelievably found his big, huge heart, it found us all,” Kelber said.

Bessant was gunned down by a sniper Dec. 20 while he was helping with an unrelated traffic stop in the Mesa Margarita neighborhood.

A 17-year-old gang member, Meki Gaono, has pleaded not guilty to murder, as well as the attempted murder of a second officer and a civilian ride-along who were standing nearby when the shots were fired.

Prosecutors said the teen admitted to using the scope on a rifle to shoot at the officers from 320 feet away.

“(Dan) stood between the good and the evil and wicked in our city,” McCoy said. “He did not die in vain.”

Officers slain in North County

North County* law enforcement officers fatally shot in the line of duty:

Dec. 20, 2006: Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant, 25, was assisting with a traffic stop at Gold Drive and Arthur Avenue when he was hit by gunfire from a nearby home. Meki Gaono, 17, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder.

June 13, 2003: Oceanside police Officer Tony Zeppetella, 27, was shot and killed by Adrian Camacho during a traffic stop. Camacho was sentenced to death.

Dec. 5, 1987: Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Brewer was killed by sniper Robert Gary Taschner, during a 13-hour siege at an Escondido apartment in which Taschner was killed.

Sept. 24, 1916: Oceanside Marshal John E. Mugan by a drunken gunman at a billiard hall.

*Since 1864, 24 law enforcement officers throughout San Diego County have been fatally shot while on duty.

– Compiled by Merrie Monteagudo

Many officers and childhood friends shared stories of Bessant's penchant for harebrained schemes and practical jokes.

Once he bought mice from a pet store to put in the locker of a fellow officer who had a problem keeping his locker tidy.

And not not too long ago, he researched the possibility of living off the San Diego coast on a huge barge to get out of paying property taxes.

“He was the instigator of great adventures and the teller of great tales,” said pastor Steve Redden of North Coast Church. “He would take otherwise clear-thinking, normal people and convince them to come along on the ride.”

Bessant would have especially loved the massive turnout of those who came to remember him, as well as all the pomp and circumstance that went with it, Redden said.

“He would've loved the big American flag draped over the entry. Even better, that they shut down the 78 freeway just for him,” he said, illiciting a roar of laughter from the crowd. The highway was shut down for the funeral procession.

Redden also acknowledged the many officers who filled the seats and stood along the side and rear walls.

“We salute you and honor you for everything you do,” he said to much applause.

A video made of photos of Bessant and set to music showed a dark-haired big-eyed boy making faces who later grew into a man cradling a baby. He was shown fishing, hunting, playing baseball. It included his wedding picture.

Oceanside Officer Scott Garrett, a childhood friend, told the mourners that Bessant took him under his wing as a rookie cop.

“Dan lived a life of zeal and excitement I've never seen and won't ever see again,” Garrett said.

After the ceremony, a lone bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace” followed the casket as it was taken outside. The family plans to cremate his remains.

“The dark days of today will someday give way to Dan's memory, as Tony Zeppetella's memory has done for the past three years,” McCoy said.

“I know Dan and Tony are patrolling the streets together in heaven.”

Or then again read VU4G10's post

But if this same 16 year old were to have sex with someone a few years older, he would be a CHILD.

He would have been a victim of some one older. Seems to be apples and oranges.

Please read everyting.

Keeping you informed.

This kid admits to looking through the scope and firing at the officer,but he pleads "Not Guilty" I suppose it wasnt his fault the rifle performed as it was supposed to.

Maybe he thinks its his right to fire at Police Officers.

It was. Sounds like it was a gang initiation. It's so sad. This officer was such a fine person and had a two-month-old son.

Sounds like Iraq.

That was Defendant 1, Todays arraignment was for Defendant 2. The DA at the arraignment said that the evidence shows that Defendant 2 was firing a handgun at the same time as defendant 1 was using the long gun.

That will be out in todays press releases.

Gang Bangers need to be treated as adults in punishment.
They may start to get a clue.

Defendant 1 Meki Gaono
Defendant 2 Penifoti "P.J." Taeotui

2007/01/09 Boy pleads not guilty to officer murder charges

The author says that P.J. "stayed stone-faced throughout his short arraignment hearing". I'll say.

Thank you, BoneHead. I wouldn't have known about today's development if you hadn't pinged me!

>>>He would have been a victim of some one older. Seems to be apples and oranges.

Please read everyting.>>>

OH, maybe I missed that part about being involved in this crime with some OLDER PEOPLE.