Ojai Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Roommate with Sledgehammer

Cameron Scott Lykins, a 28-year-old man from Ojai, California, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Wednesday for bludgeoning his roommate Houston Auer to death with a sledgehammer on May 12, 2019. The incident occurred during an altercation between Lykins and Auer in a bedroom of Auer's grandmother's home in Ojai.

According to court documents, Lykins used a sledgehammer to kill Auer during the altercation. He then dragged Auer's body out of a window and dumped it in the Angeles National Forest. After the killing, Lykins went to his mother's home in Lone Pine and contacted authorities to admit to the crime.

Lykins was initially charged with Auer's murder, but prosecutors later added a charge of voluntary manslaughter due to new evidence that challenged the original motive. This evidence included verbal and text exchanges by Auer prior to his death, which could have impacted the prosecution's ability to prove malice.

In February 2023, a mistrial was declared in the case due to the inadvertent admission of evidence. Following the mistrial, Lykins agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Why this matters: The case highlights the complexities of homicide investigations and prosecutions, where new evidence can significantly impact the charges and outcome of a trial. It also underscores the importance of thorough evidence gathering and the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in determining appropriate charges based on available information.

As part of the plea agreement, Lykins is expected to receive a sentence of 18 years in a state prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 17, 2024. "We believe the addition of a voluntary manslaughter charge and the agreed-upon sentence are appropriate resolutions to this case based on the evidence," said Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox.

Key Takeaways

• Man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing roommate
• Incident occurred during altercation in victim's grandmother's home
• Prosecutors added voluntary manslaughter charge due to new evidence
• Mistrial declared, then man agreed to plead guilty to lesser charge
• Man expected to receive 18-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter