Category Archives: Juvenile Crimes

What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)?

For the most part, many of us have not read or heard about ACE’s, the acronym for adverse childhood experiences. Whereas highly negative experiences as a child often create indelible marks in his/her brain impacting child development, they do not have to be irreversible. For more information of significant interest, see the following:  https://acestoohigh.com/2012/10/03/the-adverse-childhood-experiences-study-the-largest-most-important-public-health-study-you-never-heard-of-began-in-an-obesity-clinic/ Negative … Read More

STATE REPORT ON TRUANCY ‘CRISIS’

There is no doubt student truancy in the public schools in California has reached an epidemic level. As a former prosecutor serving as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, I saw first hand the criminal history of countless individuals as part of my caseload. In the past three decades I have … Read More

Couple pleads not guilty to child endangerment charges

A couple pleaded not guilty to felony child endangerment charges. They were accused of leaving their 4-month-old son in a car. His temperature rose to dangerous levels, and he died in a hospital. Can anyone reconcile a parent’s lifetime guilt as a result of allowing their child to die because they were using narcotics and … Read More

Four child welfare workers will be fired after death of boy

Los Angeles county officials say that four child welfare workers were negligent and guilty of many missteps in a case involving an 8-year-old boy named Gabriel Fernandez. As a result of their lapses, the boy died. The four workers have received letters informing them that they will be fired. Fernandez died in May. He was … Read More

College student gets jail time for rigging election

Matthew Weaver, a former Cal State San Marcos student, was sentenced on Monday to one year in prison. Weaver stole 750 student passwords to rig a student council election in his favor. He used a key-logger to gather information, and he was caught on the fourth day of the election, when computer technicians noticed unusual … Read More

ARRESTED BOY, 14, ADMITS TO VANDALISM, FIRES (Sam Spital)

COMMENTARY BY ATTORNEY SAM SPITAL, SAN DIEGO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER: “On February 6, 2013, the UT San Diego electronic edition reported that a teenager was arrested for arson and vandalism of a Day-Care Center, causing about $70,000 in damages. The suspect was shortly thereafter booked into Juvenile Hall. The reporter did not reveal whether she … Read More

3 teens injured after fireworks explosion in Encinitas-All 3 treated for face, arm, leg injuries (Sam Spital)

COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, SAN DIEGO PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY: “The ABC Channel 10 online edition on January 31, 2013 reported three boys, two who were age 15 and a third who was 17 years old, were all hospitalized due to injuries they each sustained when they were playing with fireworks that exploded. The three teenagers … Read More

Competency trial postponed for teen accused of stabbing mother’s fiancé (Sam Spital)

Commentary by Juvenile Defense and Criminal Law Attorney Sam Spital: “On January 8, 2013, CNS Channel 8 online news printed an article regarding a 17 year old boy facing attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges in adult court and life in state prison if convicted for repeatedly stabbing the fiancé of his mother … Read More

22 students arrested in drug sting (Sam Spital)

COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY- SAN DIEGO: “Fox 5 digital news reported on December 12, 2012 an illegal drug ring was discovered by an undercover drug investigation in which officers posed as students in several high school campuses in the Temecula Valley area of Riverside County, a community adjacent to San Diego. In … Read More

Boy, 15, charged with murder in Vista stabbing (Sam Spital)

COMMENTARY BY SAN DIEGO CRIMINAL ATTORNEY SAM SPITAL: “It is a sad commentary in today’s society that so many individuals’ lives will be adversely impacted by a 15 year old boy who otherwise could have used his youth as an opportunity to grow to be a productive adult and realize the happiness found in achieving … Read More