Junior Vera May Be on His Way to State Prison — Not to Stay, but for Mental Testing

According to Ms. Chen, an Assistant District Attorney, the 42-year-old seemingly drug-plagued son of Culver City’s best known merchant would undergo exhaustive psychological testing during a code-determined 90-day period.

Ms. Chen explained that the entire spectrum of Mr. Vera’s colorful life would be thoroughly vetted by prison medical officials.

The goal is to determine whether he is a suitable candidate for state prison, for probation or for a different form of incarceration.

Routine Practice

Assigning a three-month evaluation process is common.

“Happens all the time,” said a spokesperson in the County District Attorney’s office. “They want to see if a defendant is suitable for state prison or for probation.”

A healthcare professional familiar with the case disagreed with the methodology.

“If they don’t address the issue of sobriety,” he said, “nothing will work. A psychological test is not what Junior needs.”

Looking for Answers

On state prison grounds, psychologists would dial back to the early 1970s when the always shy, always popular chubby little kid his father still calls “Alberto,” was running around his parents’ ethnic market on South Sepulveda Boulevard.

Doctors would take the now tall and slender young man the community knows as “Junior” through his youthful days when he yearned, more than anything else, to be a police officer.

In the tradition of fathers who are self-made, Albert Vera Sr., then and now envisioned his son taking over the diversified empire he was industriously erecting.

Contrasting Styles

The hard-charging Mr. Vera Sr. talks freely and proudly about never taking a vacation.

This is not his son’s style.

Mr. Vera Jr., far more low-key, struck friends as the laissez faire type. “Driven” never was heard as a description of him.

The closest Mr. Vera Jr. came to realization of his dream was an unsatisfying term as a reserve officer with the Culver City Police Dept.

In more recent times, he has had several run-ins with police in the South Bay and in Culver City. They usually ended with a brief flurry.

It Started in El Segundo

The latest and most serious round of troubles began on March 6. He and a friend were accused of robbing the vending box of a water-dispensing machine in front of a Ralphs supermarket in El Segundo.

Mr. Vera Jr. has been incarcerated ever since, meaning he will mark four months in detention tomorrow.

New Charges

While the El Segundo matter remains unresolved, Mr. Vera’s problems accelerated in late April.

The D.A.’s office filed seven felony charges against him, giving various dates involving the burgling of a Culver City entertainment company.

Bail Keeps Him Jailed

Between the two cases, Mr. Vera is being held on $195,000 bail, a sum apparently made insurmountable by his lack of access to family funds.

A decision regarding state prison is expected on Tuesday, July 24, Mr. Vera’s next court date.