Trabucco Teen Sentenced for Trying to Murder His Sleeping Father

A 19-year-old who admitted attacking his father, a reserve Orange County sheriff’s sergeant, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison.

John Edward Kudla pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to attempted murder and aggravated assault and admitted a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury, according to Deputy District Attorney Robbie Goodkin. Kudla accepted a plea deal from prosecutors, who dropped a key part of the attempted murder charge that included premeditation and deliberation, which would have mandated a life sentence, Goodkin said.

“After sitting down with all of his medical records regarding his schizophrenia and after meeting with the victim’s family, and because he had no criminal history, I agreed to dismiss the premeditation and deliberation” part of the charge, Goodkin said.

“The victim’s family was adamant that they were hoping for less time,” Goodkin said.

The victim is no longer able to walk because of the nine blows to his head from a hammer, Goodkin said.

The then-50-year-old victim was hospitalized in critical condition following the May 22, 2013, attack in Trabuco Canyon and was in a coma following surgery, authorities said at the time of Kudla’s arrest.

Kudla, 17 at the time, took a large construction hammer from the kitchen, which was under renovation, and slammed it over the sleeping victim’s head, Goodkin said.

Kudla got dressed, had breakfast and told another family member that the sergeant, who was a reserve in the search and rescue unit, was not feeling well and would have to remain in bed for the day, according to prosecutors.

Kudla took the victim’s wallet and keys to his Volkswagen convertible and drove to school, where he met friends and later dropped them off at a McDonald’s, according to prosecutors.

Kudla has been in custody since his arrest the same day of the attack.

While behind bars, Kudla bonded with a counselor, who helped the defendant participate in classes and other activities, Goodkin said.

“He’s done really well with classes and counseling,” Goodkin said. “The defendant said (today) he was hoping to take it as a life lesson and help people in the future.”

The father relayed a message the prosecutor read to Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregg Prickett, that, “He loves his son, he misses his son and he knows on that particular day that wasn’t his son who did it -- it was a different person, and he hopes his son is home soon and he forgives him,” according to Goodkin.

City News Service