CONVICTED BEATER SET FOR JAIL RELEASE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A reputed street gang member convicted of beating a Lancaster man picking up his children at a private school was due to be released after serving less than 10 months in jail.

Kyle Stowers, 19, of Lancaster, one of four teens and young men charged in the Nov. 21 attack outside Lancaster Christian School, pleaded guilty in April to assault but his sentencing was put off until Monday to ensure he served his jail term.

``In order to avoid him being released early, he actually served 287 days from the time he was in custody to today,'' Deputy District Attorney David Berger said.

Because of budget shortfalls, the Sheriff's Department has been releasing jail inmates early.

If Stowers violates conditions of his three years' probation, he can be sentenced to eight years in prison, Berger said.

Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Chris Estes placed conditions on Stowers' sentence, including requiring that he get a General Education Diploma and a job, Berger said.

Stowers also cannot come within a half-mile of Lancaster Christian School, have contact with the victims, or associate with a gang, Berger said.

Stowers entered his plea to felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury after prosecutors agreed to dismiss other charges.

Stowers also admitted that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. The assault charge was Stowers' first conviction under the ``three strikes, you're out'' law.

Antonio McGee, 25, of Lancaster and Renaldo Mixon, 25, of Lennox entered no contest pleas to felony vandalism and were sentenced in January to six months in jail and ordered to pay between them $2,500 in restitution for damage to the victim's car.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com