By Aaron Burgin, The Porterville Recorder
Two men accused in the shooting death of a Porterville man will answer to murder charges Tuesday at an arraignment in Tulare County Superior Court.

Prosecutors say that Charlie Skyler and Joseph A. Sierra, both of Porterville, conspired to kill Felix Platas, and did so during a confrontation in the early morning hours of July 12. The two men, alleged northern gang members, are also accused of committing the crime to promote the {Norteno} street gang.

Tulare County Sheriff's Department deputies, who were originally dispatched to a traffic-accident call, found Platas in a Ford Mustang suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He died at the scene.

Judge Ronn Couillard found sufficient evidence during a January preliminary hearing to bind the two men over for a trial on murder charges. Deputy District Attorney Nick Schuller alleged that Sierra, who allegedly distributed drugs for Platas, set up a meeting at the house of Alfredo Sanchez where he planned to confront Platas over a drug-related dispute. Charlie, who accompanied Sierra to the meeting, fired the fatal shot, Schuller said.

Defense attorneys for both men argue that the lone witness - Sanchez - never saw Charlie fire the shot, and if Charlie did, it was in self defense, they said. Deputy Public Defender Roland Soltesz said that Platas was using his car as a weapon, driving violently toward the suspects in an attempt to run them over. Schuller, however, painted a different story: He said Platas was killed as he was trying to get away from the men. Sierra, Schuller said, had no intention of allowing Platas to leave alive, fearing retribution for attacking Platas, who allegedly had ties to a powerful drug-trafficking network.

In addition to the arraignment, the District Attorney's office must also decide if they will pursue the death penalty in the case. Soltesz said this may occur after the arraignment.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1047, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Feb. 13, 2007