Mexican judge finds 14-year-old U.S. citizen guilty of beheadings

[alp227]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- A 14-year-old American citizen has been found guilty in a Mexican court of torturing and beheading at least four people and kidnapping three others.

Judge Jose Luis Jaimes sentenced the teenager, known as "El Ponchis" ("The Cloak") to three years in a correctional facility -- the maximum sentence allowed under Mexican law because of his age. The teen also must pay a 4.5 million-peso fine (about $400,000).

Mexican authorities also said the 14-year-old was responsible for at least three kidnappings as an operative for the South Pacific Cartel.

The teenager's age -- and his on-camera description of the slayings -- brought international attention to the case. Analysts said the dramatic example showed how Mexican drug gangs were increasingly recruiting youths.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/07/26/mexico.teen.hit.man/index.html

[derby378]

1. Let's hear it for Mexican justice

THREE FREAKIN' YEARS?!? Good thing he never got convicted in a Texas court...

[Cool Logic]

6. I agree. But three years in a Mexican prison could, in fact, end up being "life."

[Blue_Tires]

16. fwiw I think there are still several states that would have released him at 18

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Too bad he's not here. Sheesh, a beheader gets only 3 years? nt

[SoCalNative]

3. I'm willing to bet

he'll get more time tacked onto his sentence as it's unlikely he'll be able to pay the fine.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. One could only hope! A beheader shouldn't be out and about anywhere, no matter what age nt

[IamK]

10. he was fined $100,000 per head also..... n/t

[freshwest]

13. Which he'll never pay. I wonder if they have a mental facility for him/if it'd do any good.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Evil kid. nt

[MadMaddie]

4. I think that many may not recognize the issue here

The U.S, specifically TX and Gov Perry executed a Mexican National and did not adhere to a treaty.

Don't be surprised if this boy is put to death.

[BadtotheboneBob]

8. Mexico doesn't have capital punishment...

... not to say it couldn't be done in an 'unofficial' way after he's locked up.

[MadMaddie]

9. Exactly!

[BadtotheboneBob]

15. So who's worse?

????

[JAnthony]

17. Yes, I see that issue and several others, is this the "beheadings" that AZ

governor Brewer got all mixed up about? She thought the beheadings were Mexicans killing Americans in AZ, didn't she? When it was an American kid beheading Mexicans in Mexico.

Well, she got the word "beheading" right! Geeze!

[blaze]

5. Dear lord.... 14 years old?

What would drive a 14 yo (or anyone, for that matter) to torture and behead four ppl?

This story just hurts in so many ways.

[Stumbler]

11. Why, it's just one of many "jobs" created by our nation's WoD's policies

*sigh* And decriminalization is still unacceptable.
:banghead:

[trud]

12. minors adults

Some minors are depraved beyond saving and should be tried as adults.

[Gin]

18. once you have beheaded a person (or four)...how can you be

rehabilitated? No future for this person, even if he survives prison.

[woo me with science]

19. Better in prison anyway.

He would have serious trouble finding a roommate.

[nosmokes]

21. Absolute nonsense. Children are children.

Brains are not fully developed until a person is in their mid twenties. No minor deserves to be treated as an adult in the "justice" system.

[snooper2]

20. damn, I could have be-headed people in my early years and only got a couple years?

and I was out wasting my time sledding and making trails :P

[Mimosa]

22. Reminded me of the Kmer Rouge youths

They did horrid things.

Only 3 years in jail? YIKES!