On May 12, 1990, 28-year old Jimmy Cotaling of Michigan drove his car to a store to buy his mother a Mother’s Day card. When he failed to return home, his family filed a missing person’s report. His car was found in Ohio. The police investigated the two occupants of the car, one of whom had suffered a stab wound to the stomach. Three days into the investigation, one of the suspects confessed that she and the co-defendant lured Jimmy into a house and killed him. Further investigation revealed that …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Chawa See (16) Victim: Robert Trevino Crimes: Murder with special allegations and other crimes Crime date: October 1, 2006 in Visalia, California Summary Chawa See shot a 15-year-old boy in the head with a .380 caliber semiautomatic …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Adam Sarabia (16) Victims: John Ramirez and Joann Wotkyn Crimes: Two counts of first degree murder, residential burglary and auto theft Crime date: October 21, 2004 in Santa Paula, California Summary Adam Sarabia broke into a home …
Many opponents of life without parole for juvenile offenders claim that the continued use of this sentence puts the United States in breach of its obligations under international law. Specifically, they name three treaties as barring the administration of this sentence in the United States: the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture. All of these assertions are false. Increasingly, political activists have been using the aspirational language that is often present in international agreements to advance …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Rudolfo Sandoval (17) Victim: Ryan Briner Crime: First degree murder Crime date: May 5, 2004 in Ventura, California Summary Rudolfo Sandoval shot and killed a random victim with a shotgun. Facts Rudolfo Sandoval was a member of …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Samuel Puebla (17) Victim: Valerie Zavala Crimes: First degree murder, attempted rape and felony murder Crime date: January 1, 2003 in Fillmore, California Summary Samuel Puebla attempted to rape a college student whom he met at a …
In 2005, the Supreme Court held in Roper v. Simmons that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution bar the application of the death penalty to offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed. Since then, the decision’s reasoning has become the cornerstone of the efforts of those who oppose life without parole for juvenile offenders and has reinvigorated their legal crusade to put an end to the practice. The text and history of the Eighth Amendment, however, provide little support for the …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Jesus Mandujano (17) Victims: J. Sacramento Benitez-Hernandez and an Unknown female Crimes: Felony murder, Assault with intent to commit rape and other crimes Crime date: January 3, 1992, and April 2, 1992 in San Jose, California Summary …
On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences. Defendant: Eduardo Lopez (17) Victims: Roscoe Powers, Robbie Goyette and Officer Tom MacLeod Crimes: Two counts, First degree murder & other charges Crime date: March 23, 1991 in Nashua, New Hampshire Summary In just two hours, Eduardo Lopez …
