Category Archives: Juvenile Crimes
Teen Recruits Smuggling Drugs Across Border: Feds (Sam Spital)
COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAN DIEGO: “Channel 7 San Diego online news on November 16, 2012 reported both Mexican and American teenagers, as young as 12 years old, are being recruited by drug cartels to smuggle drugs (referred to as “mules”) across the border. Federal Agents of the Homeland Security report that … Read More
Articles: Delinquency
LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL November 02, 2004 ROLE OF DELINQUENCY ATTORNEY WILL EXPAND By Blair Clarkson Daily Journal Staff Writer ——————————————- LOS ANGELES – The juvenile-delinquency court has been called everything from a revolving door to the unwanted stepchild of the justice system. Critics lament a sloppy system that strands minors in youth camps for … Read More
Verdict reached but sealed in trial of teen accused in rapes of two girls
COMMENTARY BY SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: ”On October 26, 2012, the CBS online news reported a 17 year old boy was tried as an adult in the San Diego Superior Court and found guilty of rape, kidnapping and sodomy by force upon two girls who were friends taking a walk in a local park. … Read More
Funding treatment for boy accused in murder at issue (Sam Spital)
“On September 25, 2012, the UT digital edition reported a 10 year old boy is accused of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Apparently, another child tried to separate two neighborhood children who were in an altercation in which one was threatening the other with a knife; the fatal stabbing took place in a … Read More
Report: 55 Percent of Arrested Juveniles Tested Positive for Drugs
“In a study released to the news media September 6, 2012, it was reported that 55% of juveniles who were arrested in San Diego County tested positive for drugs. The study also discovered that 58 percent of adult males and 63 percent of adult females arrested also tested positive. Our schools need to place a … Read More
Child accused in San Diego stabbing murder found mentally incompetent (SAM SPITAL)
“Any time a 10 or 11 year old child is charged with murder, it is not only unspeakable for the victim’s family but the family of the accused also suffers emotional harm. It has been reported the child in this case had a mental illness, the Juvenile Court Judge found him mentally incompetent and, therefore, … Read More
Bill offers juvenile lifers 2nd chance (SAM SPITAL)
The Bill is premised on the theory anyone under age 18 (except those convicted of torture or the killing of a law enforcement officer) can obtain what amounts to a “get out of prison card” because juveniles should not be incarcerated for life without parole if they can show rehabilitation. But, it is a slippery … Read More
J.D.B. v. North Carolina
On June 16, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case of J.D.B. v. North Carolina, Case # 09-111121, https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-11121.pdf held police must consider age and school setting when questioning a child and, therefore, whether they are required to give a Miranda warning. This case involved a thirteen year old seventh grade special education student … Read More
Miller v. Alabama
On March 20, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama, Case # 10-9646, will decide whether a juvenile who commits a homicide and is sentenced to life in prison without parole constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and, therefore, a violation of the 8th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution. Miller was 14 years … Read More