Jury Convicts Man for Encino Police Shootout and Double Murders

A 46-year-old man was convicted today of murdering a man and woman whose decomposing bodies were found behind a Chatsworth house the three had shared.

Jurors deliberated five days before convicting Brent Darrin Zubek of the shooting deaths of Oletta Jean Williams, 28, and John David Lee, 40, who were found dead Aug. 12, 2011.

The two had been killed about six weeks earlier.

Jurors found true the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, along with an allegation that Zubek personally discharged a firearm.

The panel also convicted Zubek of six felony counts of assault with a firearm upon a peace officer and one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was shot in the hip by Los Angeles police when he pulled a gun and pointed it at officers 10 days after the victims’ bodies were found. No officers were wounded.

Zubek -- who was convicted of federal bank robbery charges in 1993 -- acted as his own attorney during his latest trial in a San Fernando courtroom.

He is due back in court Feb. 11 for a status conference, with sentencing tentatively set for March 6.

Zubek is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole plus nine life terms.

Prosecutors opted not to seek the death penalty for Zubek.

• City News Service