Seth Cravens, who was found guilty in November of second-degree murder in the death of pro surfer Emery Kauanui Jr., was sentenced yesterday to serve 20 years to life behind bars. Cravens, who got into a dispute with Kauanui over spilled beer at the La Jolla Brew House, subsequently followed Kauanui with four of his friends, confronted Kauanui at his La Jolla home, knocked Kauanui to the ground after punching him once in the jaw, and Kauanui died four days later in the hospital after complications from a fractured skull and head trauma.

Three of Seth’s four friends who went with him to Kauanui’s house pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, and the three were placed on three years’ probation. The group called themselves the Bird Rock Bandits, and despite efforts by the prosecution to add charges because of gang allegations, the judge ruled that the group did not fit the definition of a gang under state law.

The Bird Rock Bandits apparently were a major nuisance to the La Jolla community, as all of the members were graduates of La Jolla High School and caused trouble frequently. Looks like one of their members won’t be around to cause trouble for a long time.