Newhall Man Is Arrested in Witness’ Death

Police say Kenneth Leighton was so desperate to avoid a possible life sentence for his “third strike” in the California penal system that he ordered a hit man to kill a witness in his upcoming burglary trial.

Trouble was, Leighton was wrong about his criminal record, police said. He wasn’t facing a life sentence at all--until now.

“Obviously, this guy wasn’t the brightest bulb,” said LAPD homicide Det. Rick Swanston.

Leighton, 38, was arrested on suspicion of murder early Thursday in connection with the November slayings of 36-year-old James Navaroli and his girlfriend, April Mahoney, outside their West Hills home.

Police arrested the alleged shooter--Randall Williams--in December. The investigation then turned to Leighton, a longtime friend of the alleged gunman.

Williams and Leighton were suspected in a series of commercial burglaries last summer in the West Valley. Williams was never charged, police said. But Leighton had been and was awaiting trial.

When Leighton learned last year that Navaroli was going to be a witness against him, police said, Leighton threatened Navaroli.

“Don’t you know I can have you killed?” one police source quoted Leighton as saying to Navaroli.

Swanston said detectives have since interviewed acquaintances of Leighton who said he was distraught over the burglary charges and the potential outcome of the case.

“People who knew him say he thought it was his third strike,” Swanston said. “And the guy didn’t want to do 30 years.”

Leighton’s lawyer, Ron Lewis, dismissed the notion that his client was involved in a murder to avoid a third strike and life prison sentence. On the contrary, Lewis said, the burglary case against Leighton was “weak,” and his prior criminal record consisted of “minor stuff.”

“Kenny Leighton was never worried about the case being the end of the world,” Lewis said. “He wasn’t in panic mode. There was no need to have people killed.”

Lewis said he suspected the police were talking to the same witnesses in the murder case as those in the burglary case.

“Some of these witnesses are convicted felons and reputed drug abusers,” he said. “Their credibility is in serious question.”

Swanston declined to discuss details of the case, referring questions to Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Duarte. Duarte did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, declined comment other than to say charges had not yet been filed in the case.

Leighton, who owns an automotive business in the San Fernando Valley and lives with his wife and two children in Newhall, is being held without bail.

Navaroli and Mahoney were shot Nov. 4 as they stepped from their pickup truck in the driveway of their rented home on Ingomar Street in West Hills.

Navaroli, who was hit in the head and upper torso, died at the scene. Mahoney was hit several times in the upper torso but allegedly identified Williams as the shooter before she died of her injuries days later.

Navaroli had been in a police witness protection program pending his testimony at trial. He secretly left the program shortly before he was killed.

The killing was one of two that prompted the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to call for a review of the county’s witness protection program.