TEEN SET TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON PALMDALE MAN GETS CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED AFTER ACQUITTAL.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A young Palmdale man acquitted in the stabbing death of a former local television personality but convicted of stealing the victim's car is scheduled to be released from state prison in 45 days.

Paul Romando, 19, who maintained he acted in self-defense in the killing of 41-year-old Field Terry Simes in a Sierra Highway motel room, was sentenced Friday to three years in prison but was given credit for the time he has spent behind bars since his arrest in May 1999 - a total of 1,050 days.

``He's a kid,'' said Romando's attorney, David Houchin, after the sentencing. ``The first thing he said to me when the verdict came in was, 'How much time will I get on the grand theft auto?' I told him you were just acquitted on a (murder charge). Forget about it. Just do it and get on with your life.''

Romando's first trial ended in January with a jury acquitting him of first-degree murder, but deadlocked in favor of not guilty on second- degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and auto theft.

In his second trial, Romando was acquitted in March of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter but convicted of stealing Simes' 1987 BMW sedan. Romando said he acted in self-defense after Simes made sexual advances toward him.

Romando was 17 when Simes was killed in April 1999 but was found unfit to be tried in Juvenile Court.

In a report prepared by a deputy probation officer, the victim's mother, Ruby Simes, said she wanted Romando to be sent away to prison for a long time and said her son was not gay.

``He took my son's life, and I would like him to be locked up for life to see how it feels to have someone else controlling your life,'' Ruby Simes said, according to the report. ``Everyone makes a sexual advance toward someone else at one time or another. He was playing. That's nothing to get killed over.''

When Simes was killed, Romando was already on probation for a 1997 juvenile conviction for attempted carjacking.

After stabbing Simes in the throat early in the morning of April 14 at the Tropic Motel, Romando drove off in Simes' car. He later drove it to Jackson Lake, where he removed the front license plate and paperwork from the glove compartment and threw them into a Dumpster, along with a blood-stained knife and a meat cleaver, the probation report said.

The Tropic Motel manager found Simes' body when he went to the room to check out another guest's complaint of a fight.

Simes, who was known for helping troubled youths, hosted a talk show on KPAL in 1998.

Romando and Simes had known each other for about a year. Houchin said they first met when Romando was walking to school and Simes drove by in his car and struck up a conversation.

Houchin said Simes offered to help Romando launch a music career.

Friends and relatives said the victim was a faithful Christian who spent much of his time visiting jail inmates and ex-convicts and trying to set them on the right track. He frequently rented rooms for ex-convicts and others with nowhere to live, they said.