CASE OF INTEREST

Date: January 16, 2002
Type of Proceeding: Dispositional Hearing (sentencing)
Minors' Names: Confidential
Minors' Ages: (15); (16)
Contact: Shon Northam, Deputy District Attorney
Telephone: 875-5024

District Attorney Jan Scully announced today that the Honorable Kenneth Peterson, Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court, committed the fifteen-year-old to the California Youth Authority for a period not to exceed nine (9) years late yesterday afternoon. Judge Peterson committed the sixteen-year-old to the California Youth Authority for a period not to exceed nine (9) years. Judge Peterson also ordered both minors to register as sex offenders upon their release from the Youth Authority. After a four-day trial last December, Judge Peterson found true that both minors kidnapped and raped the victim during the last day of school on June 1, 2001, in a gymnasium at Laguna Creek High School.

Deputy District Attorney Shon Northam said, "the public was safeguarded by committing both of these individuals to the California Youth Authority given the brazen nature and predatory circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and rape. The public was provided additional safety measures since both minors will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release."

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