Teen Charged As Adult in Petaluma Murder
A Santa Rosa boy was charged as an adult in a fatal stabbing incident that occurred Dec. 17 in downtown Petaluma, according to a news article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070703/NEWS/70703002/1033/NEWS01
16-year-old Gibb Olivarez attended the hearing for the first time in adult court Monday but did not enter a plea. A juvenile court judge had ruled last week that given the seriousness of the crimes, Olivarez be treated as an adult in the stabbing and killing of 31-year-old Nathaniel Reifers and causing injuries to 23-year-old Salvatore Cucci Jr., both of Petaluma, the article stated.
Prosecutors allege that Olivarez stabbed Cucci in a Petaluma bar when Cucci refused to buy alcohol for the teenager. Soon after this assault, Reifers and a group of other men chased down Olivarez. In the fight that ensued, Reifers was stabbed several times. Several group members reportedly also beat, kicked and stabbed Olivarez. But so far there have been no weapons or evidence found in connection with Olivarez’s assault. One of Reifer’s friends has received immunity in exchange for testifying against Olivarez, who will be held without bail at the Los Guilucos Juvenile Justice Center.
There is no doubt that the alleged crime is of a serious nature. A young man lost his life. But there are many questions here typical to cases involving a group fight. Who started the fight? Who is the victim and who is the perpetrator? Who stabbed whom? Who is telling the truth? While we believe most of these questions can be asked in this case, there is a good chance we may not get all the answers.
This case assumes even more significance because a 16-year-old boy is facing serious prison time. He may spend the best years of his life in prison. And how is being surrounded by hardened criminals going to help an adolescent take a turn for the better and make him a good citizen when he gets released in, say, 20 years? Clearly there are problems with our juvenile justice system. We’re here to help you make sense of it. If your child has been charged with a serious crime, you need the help of an attorney who will act in a timely manner and help you through the process quickly and efficiently. Don’t wait. Call a Southern California criminal defense attorney to get the help you need.
