Ojai Valley Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Friend's Killing

Friday April 19, 2024

(Photo of Lykins courtesy VCSO)

     Updated--An Ojai Valley man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his friend.

     28-year-old Cameron Lykins of Meiners Oaks had been charged with murder in the sledgehammer killing of 22-year-old Houston Auer of Meiners Oaks in May of 2019.

     Lykins killed Auer at his residence and then took his body to the Angeles National Forest where he dumped it.

     He then drove to his mother's home in Lone Pine where he was tracked down and arrested.

     Lykins went on trial for murder but a mistrial was declared after evidence was mistakenly presented before its admissibility had been approved.

     Prosecutors say during the wait for a retrial new evidence was developed that indicated it would have been difficult to prove malice for the murder charge beyond a reasonable doubt so prosecutors lowered the charge to voluntary manslaughter and Lykins pleaded guilty to that charge Friday.

     He also admitted several special allegations and aggravating factors including that he used a deadly weapon and had convictions for prior crimes.

     Lykins remains in the Ventura County Jail and is set to be sentenced to 18 years in state prison on May 17th.