11 year old girl charged with assault with a deadly weapon

method · 2005-08-03, 11:18 AM

FRESNO, Calif. - Advocates for an 11-year-old girl who was arrested on a deadly weapon charge for throwing a 2-pound rock during a water balloon fight say the charge in no way fits the crime.

But Fresno's mayor and police chief say Maribel Cuevas's case was handled appropriately, and that assault with a deadly weapon is the proper charge for an act that might have had fatal consequences.

The case was to go to trial Wednesday in the Juvenile Delinquency Division of Fresno Superior Court. In an unusual move for a case involving a minor, the trial will be open to the public.

Maribel was arrested in April for throwing the rock at a neighborhood boy who had pelted her with a water balloon. The rock gashed the boy's forehead, and the girl spent five days in Fresno's juvenile hall and a month under house arrest after police said she resisted arrest and scratched an officer's arm.

Lisa Bennett, a legal assistant for defense attorney Richard Beshwate Jr., said efforts to avert a trial were fruitless. "Even though there may or may not be good offers, having her plead guilty to a crime is not acceptable," Bennett said Tuesday.

Alvin Harrell, the Fresno County assistant district attorney who supervises juvenile cases, said court rules prohibited him from commenting.

In a statement issued shortly after The Associated Press published a story about the case, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer defended his department's actions.

"The simple fact is that we have an 11-year-old girl who struck a boy in the head with a jagged-edged, two-pound river rock, that required him to have stitches," Dyer said. "That is a felony, assault with a deadly weapon, and we are very fortunate that that act did not cause a more serious injury, even death."

Elijah Vang, the boy who was injured by Maribel and who has acknowledged throwing a water balloon at her, was expected to testify at the trial.

Shawn_E · 2005-08-03, 11:19 AM

Didn't read anything but that first sentence that girl wins the "that's gangsta" award of the day.

method · 2005-08-03, 11:29 AM

i don't think any charges would've been filed if it had been a white girl in malibu.

housecat · 2005-08-03, 11:47 AM

Dude, no fair. That other kid totally started it. He had that shit coming.

Kidding. Sorta.

Liftedtrance · 2005-08-03, 11:53 AM

wtf

seriously

wtf kids throw shit at each other all the time. this is stupid. no way she should be charged like that.

Shawn_E · 2005-08-03, 11:54 AM

What is the world coming to I remember growing up having rock throwing fights, we would ping each other with some big ass rocks. I guess that's the ghetto though

Shawn_E · 2005-08-03, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liftedtrance

wtf

seriously

wtf kids throw shit at each other all the time. this is stupid. no way she should be charged like that.

white people boy...j/k

housecat · 2005-08-03, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liftedtrance

wtf

seriously

wtf kids throw shit at each other all the time. this is stupid. no way she should be charged like that.

For real. My brother has chased me around with a knife before. Shit, this is some baby stuff right here. Girl, threw a rock. COME ONNNNNNNNNN!

2005-08-03, 11:58 AM

we used to have bb gun wars

we weren't the smartest kids

Liftedtrance · 2005-08-03, 12:00 PM

watch tho, a picture of this girl is gonna surface, and she's gonna be wearing baggy jeans, a shirt 8 sizes too big, a baseball cap cocked to the side, wearing bling on all body parts, with a huge chain around her neck with a spinnin medallion on it, throwin up gang signs.

then maybe i'll change my tune

Methodus · 2005-08-03, 12:00 PM

what's her record? clean I hope for a 11 yr old, but ya never know. I think her past record would influence the verdict. As much as kids will be kids, if someone else is going to report you to the police...well... you may be SOL.

method · 2005-08-03, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methodus

what's her record? clean I hope for a 11 yr old, but ya never know. I think her past record would influence the verdict. As much as kids will be kids, if someone else is going to report you to the police...well... you may be SOL.

you're citing the relevance of priors to an 11 year old...

wow

just

wow.

Cortex · 2005-08-03, 12:21 PM

Whatever.

She gashed the boys' forehead, he had to get stitches She attacked the police officers who were trying to restrain her. It's not like she'll get life in prison or anything, there's only so much you can do to an 11-yr old.

I bet you guys would be condemning her if she had accidentally killed him with that rock.

Shawn_E · 2005-08-03, 12:22 PM

Nah I'd say shit happens.

LordOfThePance · 2005-08-03, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cortex

Whatever.

She gashed the boys' forehead, he had to get stitches She attacked the police officers who were trying to restrain her. It's not like she'll get life in prison or anything, there's only so much you can do to an 11-yr old.

I bet you guys would be condemning her if she had accidentally killed him with that rock.

2005-08-03, 11:18 AM	#1
method MODERATOR ∞ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ⌨ Posts: 16,440	11 year old girl charged with assault with a deadly weapon FRESNO, Calif. - Advocates for an 11-year-old girl who was arrested on a deadly weapon charge for throwing a 2-pound rock during a water balloon fight say the charge in no way fits the crime. But Fresno's mayor and police chief say Maribel Cuevas's case was handled appropriately, and that assault with a deadly weapon is the proper charge for an act that might have had fatal consequences. The case was to go to trial Wednesday in the Juvenile Delinquency Division of Fresno Superior Court. In an unusual move for a case involving a minor, the trial will be open to the public. Maribel was arrested in April for throwing the rock at a neighborhood boy who had pelted her with a water balloon. The rock gashed the boy's forehead, and the girl spent five days in Fresno's juvenile hall and a month under house arrest after police said she resisted arrest and scratched an officer's arm. Lisa Bennett, a legal assistant for defense attorney Richard Beshwate Jr., said efforts to avert a trial were fruitless. "Even though there may or may not be good offers, having her plead guilty to a crime is not acceptable," Bennett said Tuesday. Alvin Harrell, the Fresno County assistant district attorney who supervises juvenile cases, said court rules prohibited him from commenting. In a statement issued shortly after The Associated Press published a story about the case, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer defended his department's actions. "The simple fact is that we have an 11-year-old girl who struck a boy in the head with a jagged-edged, two-pound river rock, that required him to have stitches," Dyer said. "That is a felony, assault with a deadly weapon, and we are very fortunate that that act did not cause a more serious injury, even death." Elijah Vang, the boy who was injured by Maribel and who has acknowledged throwing a water balloon at her, was expected to testify at the trial. __________________ "The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative". ~ Winston Churchill blog\| crap tunes

2005-08-03, 11:19 AM	#2
Shawn_E I AM A MANGA! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In MANGA LAND! Posts: 11,436	Didn't read anything but that first sentence that girl wins the "that's gangsta" award of the day. __________________ Tim sent to me in outlook: "I would also like to note some of the thing's you say are terroristic and very un-american."

2005-08-03, 11:29 AM	#3
method MODERATOR ∞ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ⌨ Posts: 16,440	i don't think any charges would've been filed if it had been a white girl in malibu. __________________ "The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative". ~ Winston Churchill blog\| crap tunes

2005-08-03, 11:53 AM	#5
Liftedtrance COME ON, FRANK! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: YOU KNOW I LOVE SURPRISES! Posts: 18,686	wtf seriously wtf kids throw shit at each other all the time. this is stupid. no way she should be charged like that. __________________ I'm Deftil aka Steve aka Liftedsteve Me on Myspace and Virb. Please check out my blog, Dirty Beat Blog, for DnB mixes and free tunes from DnB's best DJs & producers!

2005-08-03, 11:54 AM	#6
Shawn_E I AM A MANGA! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In MANGA LAND! Posts: 11,436	What is the world coming to I remember growing up having rock throwing fights, we would ping each other with some big ass rocks. I guess that's the ghetto though __________________ Tim sent to me in outlook: "I would also like to note some of the thing's you say are terroristic and very un-american."

2005-08-03, 11:47 AM	#4
housecat Munchkinlush Join Date: May 2002 Location: on a mountain top with a radio and good batteries Posts: 41,666	Dude, no fair. That other kid totally started it. He had that shit coming. Kidding. Sorta.

2005-08-03, 11:58 AM	#9
Milkman John Guest Posts: n/a	we used to have bb gun wars we weren't the smartest kids

2005-08-03, 12:00 PM	#10
Liftedtrance COME ON, FRANK! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: YOU KNOW I LOVE SURPRISES! Posts: 18,686	watch tho, a picture of this girl is gonna surface, and she's gonna be wearing baggy jeans, a shirt 8 sizes too big, a baseball cap cocked to the side, wearing bling on all body parts, with a huge chain around her neck with a spinnin medallion on it, throwin up gang signs. then maybe i'll change my tune __________________ I'm Deftil aka Steve aka Liftedsteve Me on Myspace and Virb. Please check out my blog, Dirty Beat Blog, for DnB mixes and free tunes from DnB's best DJs & producers!

2005-08-03, 12:00 PM	#11
Methodus BANNINATED!! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NoVA Posts: 20,794	what's her record? clean I hope for a 11 yr old, but ya never know. I think her past record would influence the verdict. As much as kids will be kids, if someone else is going to report you to the police...well... you may be SOL.

2005-08-03, 12:21 PM	#13
Cortex Dave Cortex Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Inside your mind Posts: 3,912	Whatever. She gashed the boys' forehead, he had to get stitches She attacked the police officers who were trying to restrain her. It's not like she'll get life in prison or anything, there's only so much you can do to an 11-yr old. I bet you guys would be condemning her if she had accidentally killed him with that rock. __________________ Dave Cortex on: Beatport \| Myspace \| Facebook \| Twitter \| Youtube ........................................................................... ..........

2005-08-03, 12:22 PM	#14
Shawn_E I AM A MANGA! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In MANGA LAND! Posts: 11,436	Nah I'd say shit happens. __________________ Tim sent to me in outlook: "I would also like to note some of the thing's you say are terroristic and very un-american."

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