Appeal Court Upholds Juarez Conviction

A California Court of Appeal upheld the 2008 conviction of Ricardo Juarez, now 18 years old, who was sentenced to 17 years in state prison for his involvement in the 2007 stabbing death of Luis “Angel” Linares in March 2007. Juarez was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, with enhancements for being a member of a gang, and for personal use of a weapon. Juarez filed his appeal shortly after his conviction, saying that two jurors engaged in misconduct, and that the trial court erred in excluding expert testimony about the growth of the adolescent brain. The appellate court, in an opinion released on 7/26, disagreed with Juarez, who is currently incarcerated at High Desert State Prison.