Saturday, September 15, 2007
No prison for teen who shot stepbrother - Seattle P-I
After hearing from youth's backers, judge shows leniency
[Follow-up from previous posting]
Confounding expectations and ignoring the wishes of prosecutors, a judge Friday spared 16-year-old Jordan Jantoc from prison time in the fatal shooting of his stepbrother and instead sentenced the teen to two years of electronic home-monitoring.Before handing down the sentence, Judge Harry McCarthy listened to an hour of testimony from Jantoc's family, school principal and church pastor -- all of whom pointed out that the shooting had been accidental and that no good would come from incarcerating the impressionable boy. Jantoc had pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
King County prosecutor Don Raz acknowledged that Jantoc's actions appeared unintentional. But "they nevertheless were criminal," he said, recommending a three-year sentence for the teen.
...
Michael's biological mother was nearly speechless at the ruling. Michelle Lucero lost custody of her child 14 years ago and said no one informed her of his death until eight months after the fact.
"I thought it was pretty easy," she said of the sentence outside McCarthy's chambers. "I expected him to do some time -- but not at home."
...
Under terms of the sentence, which takes into account time that Jantoc already has served at home, the teen will be monitored for another year, then turned over to the Department of Corrections' community custody division. McCarthy also ordered the boy to speak with other youths about the dangers of firearms.
"That will be your obligation," he told Jantoc.
"If you do your part to educate others, I think that will be of some help." [end]
After hearing from youth's backers, judge shows leniency
[Follow-up from previous posting]
Confounding expectations and ignoring the wishes of prosecutors, a judge Friday spared 16-year-old Jordan Jantoc from prison time in the fatal shooting of his stepbrother and instead sentenced the teen to two years of electronic home-monitoring.Before handing down the sentence, Judge Harry McCarthy listened to an hour of testimony from Jantoc's family, school principal and church pastor -- all of whom pointed out that the shooting had been accidental and that no good would come from incarcerating the impressionable boy. Jantoc had pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
King County prosecutor Don Raz acknowledged that Jantoc's actions appeared unintentional. But "they nevertheless were criminal," he said, recommending a three-year sentence for the teen.
...
Michael's biological mother was nearly speechless at the ruling. Michelle Lucero lost custody of her child 14 years ago and said no one informed her of his death until eight months after the fact.
"I thought it was pretty easy," she said of the sentence outside McCarthy's chambers. "I expected him to do some time -- but not at home."
...
Under terms of the sentence, which takes into account time that Jantoc already has served at home, the teen will be monitored for another year, then turned over to the Department of Corrections' community custody division. McCarthy also ordered the boy to speak with other youths about the dangers of firearms.
"That will be your obligation," he told Jantoc.
"If you do your part to educate others, I think that will be of some help." [end]
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