New Jersey Teen Acquitted Of First-Degree Murder Charge
A Somerset County jury has acquitted a North Plainfield teenager of first degree murder, robbery and felony murder. According to an article in the Star-Ledger, 19-year-old Dionys Rivas was accused of robbing and killing 60-year-old Maximo Castro on April 27, 2005. Jurors however convicted Rivas of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and third-degree theft for stealing a cell phone from 60-year-old Honorio Delgado.
Rivas was 16 years old at the time of the incident when prosecutors say he and another 13-year-old boy collaborated to rob Delgado. During the robbery, the other teen and Rivas hit Castro three times with a wooden bat, officials said. The case started in a New Jersey juvenile court, but ended in adult court. Rivas faces up to 10 years in prison for the second-degree murder conviction and up to five years for the theft.
Juvenile crime cases are extremely complicated and emotional due in part to the age of the defendant involved. This case was obviously no exception. Parents and families of these young defendants go through a nightmare as they navigate the courts and the legal process. If your child has been accused of a serious juvenile crime in the state of New Jersey, you need an experienced and competent juvenile crimes defense attorney to handle your case.
Our knowledgeable Somerset County criminal defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein will work hard to get the best possible results. Our main goal is to keep your child out of jail and to provide the help and support they need during this difficult time. Call us today for a free consultation.
