Teen pleads guilty to murdering California Highway Patrol officer

modbee ^ | 12-6-04

[LouAvul]

POMONA, Calif. (AP) - A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday to murdering a California Highway Patrol officer who was gunned down as he stood outside the Pomona courthouse in April.

Valentino Mitchell Arenas pleaded guilty to first-degree murder of Officer Thomas Steiner and admitted the special circumstances of murder of a police officer, lying in wait and murder during a drive-by shooting, said Deputy District Attorney Linda Loftfield.

The plea was entered before West Covina Superior Court Judge Thomas Falls as jury selection for trial was under way.

Arenas also admitted the special allegations of personal use of a handgun to commit the crime and that the killing was "for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in association with a criminal street gang with the specific intent to promote, further and assist in criminal conduct by gang members."

[LouAvul]

The rest of the article says the max this punk can get is life. If I say what I'm thinking about everything surrounding this story I'll get flamed.

[joesnuffy]

Time to run some special ops against his street gang...

imo

[7.62 x 51mm]

If I say what I mean, I'll get suspended again, or banned, finally. Dammit!
Flamed? Least of your worries, LA.

The LEO is still dead, pal. The subhuman, murderous POS is laughing at us all, dammit!

[jocon307]

"The rest of the article says the max this punk can get is life."

I guess that was the plea bargain. Otherwise the two (three?) special circumstances would bring death. Although I understand "lying in wait" is a term of art in Cali law, it does seem contradictory with "murder during a drive-by shooting"

[PAR35]

I guess that was the plea bargain. Otherwise the two (three?) special circumstances would bring death.

Didn't the liberal majority on the SCOTUS say you couldn't provide full justice to 16 year olds?

[Daaave]

Article Published: Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 8:23:28 PM PST

Thomas Steiner: Good man's life taken

http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203%257E31677%257E2136809,00.html

[Old Professer]

Must be some gang; used to be a wino was enough.

[TheDon]

I don't have any problems executing a 16 year old for cold blooded murder, no problem whatsoever. A civilized society requires it.

[Bonaparte]

What I surmise is that the killer was "lying in wait" in the car until he saw the officer outside the courthouse, at which point he either drove the car within range or had his driver do so.

[LNewman]

Pomona 12th Street gang

[fire_eye]

Is this really a "16-year-old boy", or is it just a filthy piece-of-schumer Mexican crack gang insect?

We've had a couple of cops shot up here by the latter... for my money they should be taken up over Mexico City in a helicopter and "Dropped Off" from 1500 feet, suitably tagged for identification and philosphical debate by the residents below...