Teen murder suspect in danger, attorney says

A judge ruled today that Ashley Paige Benton, the 16-year-old girl accused of killing a teen last week during a gang ambush at Ervan Chew Park, should remain in custody because of threats against her. The ruling came after Benton's attorney, Rick DeToto, asked that she be kept in custody and away from other gang members so she doesn't get killed. DeToto said it's probably the first time in his career that he's asked authorities to keep a client locked up, but he's worried that the situation "has the potential to turn into a gang warfare."

We guess that potential gang warfare doesn't include the attack at the park 4500 Dunlavy in which 25 or 30 gang members ambushed Gabriel Granillo and his buddies, beating and stabbing Granillo to death Tuesday. Benton told friends at Lamar High School about the attack and later told police she was the sole participant in Granillo's death, but DeToto is saying Benton (who he claims isn't a gang member) was just trying to defend herself.

Since the attack, DeToto said Benton and her mother have received death threats. Benton's mom has left her home in the 1700 block of Lexington, just down the street from Chew Park, and DeToto has told her to keep out of the public eye:

"Obviously she does support her daughter," DeToto said. "I've advised her, due to the risk of danger to her, not to show up to the courtroom. I don't want her face on the media. I don't want her face in the paper. I don't want her name out there."

Charges haven't been filed against Benton, but DeToto said he expected her to plead that she didn't "engage in delinquent conduct," the equivalent of a not-guilty plea in juvenile court. It could end up being a standard not-guilty plea, though: Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal said Benton may be tried as an adult depending on evidence.