"Careless Handling" of a Gun Lands Father Three Years Probation in Teen's Shooting Death

SANTA ANA, CA — The man who owned a gun used in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact on Friday in Santa Ana court. He was immediately sentenced to 80 days in jail, or time already served behind bars.

Alexander Christopher Granados, 41, accepted a plea deal from Orange County Superior Court Judge Roger Robbins, who placed the defendant on three years of informal probation, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke.

His son, Matthew Jacob Granados, still faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement allegation of the personal use of a firearm.

Police responded about 11:45 p.m., Sept. 4, to reports of a shooting at the suspect's residence in the 3600 block of West Hazard Avenue, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Officers found the victim, Alex Adrian Ramirez, suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body, Bertagna said. The teen was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The defendant is accused of handling a gun in his room in a "careless manner," resulting in the teen's death, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

He ran away before paramedics arrived, and his father misled police to help his son avoid arrest, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report. Shutterstock photo.