Originally published Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (56)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Prosecutor targeting teen gun crime
With his staff on track to file twice as many juvenile cases into adult court this year compared with last year, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is searching for ways to stiffen penalties faced by violent teenagers.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Free gang-violence seminar at City Hall
Tonight, experts discuss youth crime and how police, schools and community groups are handling it.Speakers at the event include Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess; Mariko Lockhart, director of Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative; Phelan Wyrick, senior policy adviser for the U.S. Department of Justice; Dennis Turner, co-founder of Building the Bridges; Eleuthera Lisch, program director for the YMCA; and Seattle police Lt. Ron Wilson, who oversees the department's gang unit. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event starts at 7.
With his staff on track to file twice as many juvenile cases in adult court this year compared with last year, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is searching for ways to stiffen penalties faced by violent teenagers.
Satterberg said recently that he and state Attorney General Rob McKenna have started discussing proposals and hope for changes out of the next legislative session. In the meantime, Satterberg said he has been regularly using his legal discretion to decide which teens should have their cases handled in adult court, where penalties can be more severe.
Of 19 cases so far this year that Satterberg transferred from juvenile to felony court — the same number as in all of last year — the majority have involved guns and gangs. Satterberg can automatically transfer cases between the two courts without a judge's permission if the youth involved are at least 16, are accused of a serious or violent offense — including murder, rape, robbery or arson — and have a significant criminal history.
"By the time a juvenile has picked up a gun and is firing shots at other people, they are no longer juveniles in either my view or in the eyes of the law," Satterberg said.
Satterberg, who serves on the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission, said he would like to see a change in sentences for all juveniles linked to gun crimes, not just the ones with a prior criminal history or who have used the gun to commit another crime, such as a robbery.
"Right now, a juvenile who is convicted of possessing a handgun, which is illegal, is eligible for no detention time at all," he said. "We're saying if we catch them with a gun and they haven't used it yet, it's no big deal."
Teens whose cases are transferred into adult court still, if convicted, serve their prison time with the state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.
Last year saw a dip in juvenile cases charged in King County adult felony court. The prosecutor's office took that step with 29 juvenile cases in 2007, 30 in 2006 and 26 in 2005, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the office.
The cases filed in King County Superior Court this year include:
• Terry Black, 17, charged with two counts of first-degree assault. He allegedly shot two men after an argument at a SeaTac apartment complex Feb. 17.
• Donovan Allen, 16, charged with first-degree robbery and felony harassment. He allegedly robbed a man at a Federal Way apartment on April 25. The victim was beaten up and slashed with a razor.
• Anthony Verzola, 17, charged with first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. Verzola is accused of firing at least five shots near Seattle's Alki Beach on May 1. A 19-year-old man was wounded in the back and is partially paralyzed.
"The message we send in juvenile court needs to be a consistent message that you have been caught with an illegal weapon and this is very, very serious," Satterberg said. "We're all disturbed by young people using firearms particularly, but I don't think our juvenile laws reflect how serious a crime that is."
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
UW provost tapped for Nike's board
Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
Man gets 11 1/2 years in I-90 floating-bridge stabbing
UPDATE - 05:54 PM
Unborn baby offered for adoption on Craiglist

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable
- Sentence request for US woman in Italy murder case
- 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
- Boeing facility death was suicide
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Man falls 8 stories, suffers minor injuries
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- First key vote today on Senate health bill
164 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
105 - Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant
97 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
81 - Senate vote clears hurdle
76 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
71 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
67 - Bye week answers, volume four
46 - Saturday links
46 - Case of accused "Street Mobb" pimp goes to jury
45
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- Restaurant review | Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
- Seattle industrial artist Rusty Oliver is the man behind 'Smash Putt'
- Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again









