On July 21, a sentencing date has been set for a man convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. The Long Beach jury deliberated for about a day and acquitted Sergio Alvarez, 27, of second-degree murder in the killing of Gavin Clason on March 6, 2022. Alvarez’s attorney argued that the act was committed in self-defense. However, the jury found him guilty of using a knife to stab the victim and of dissuading a witness from reporting the crime. He was also convicted of petty theft. Superior Court Judge Richard M. Goul ordered Alvarez to return to court on July 21 for sentencing, although the specific sentence is yet to be determined.
After the verdict, the victim’s father, Norman, expressed his grief and stated that his son did not deserve to die in the manner he did.
In her closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Mac contended that Alvarez had no reasonable belief that his life was in danger when he chased after Clason and stabbed him. Mac further stated that Alvarez went overboard by stabbing Clason while he was on the ground. Mac also highlighted that Alvarez attempted to cover his tracks by telling a co-worker not to report the incident and shaving his hair.
On the other hand, defense attorney Joe Gibbons argued that Alvarez was acting in self-defense. He emphasized the significant physical discrepancy between Alvarez and Clason and claimed that Alvarez had the right to be scared and defend himself. Gibbons admitted that his client stabbed Clason but asserted that it was a reasonable reaction given the circumstances.
Gibbons also disputed the robbery charge and suggested that the prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He left it up to the jury to determine whether Alvarez attempted to dissuade a witness from calling the police.
In her rebuttal argument, Mac countered Gibbons’ claim, stating that Alvarez was acting out of anger, not self-defense. She noted that the jury had access to surveillance videos depicting the initial confrontation and the subsequent stabbing. Clason was pronounced dead on the sidewalk in the 3900 block of East Ocean Boulevard.
Alvarez was arrested the following day and has been in jail since then.
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