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BreakingNewsTeam - > Breaking News -> Exclusive: Trial begins in elderly beating death case
Exclusive: Trial begins in elderly beating death case

The trial of Demitris King began this morning with some really interesting testimony and one feisty exchange between the judge and a young witness. Looks like we were the only media in the court this morning too. But that's why you guys come to the BNT for your breaking news, right?

Here's Jason Kotowski's story so far: (Make sure you read to the bottom where Judge Stuebbe gets MAD!)

Jaime Hernandez swung a stick at his attackers and dodged rocks they threw at him as they tried to steal the shopping cart he uses to gather bottles and aluminum cans.

He yelled for help, police were called and a short while later the teens were in handcuffs. What Hernandez didn’t realize at that time was that he was the lucky one that June day.

The teens had already allegedly beaten 81-year-old Ezequiel Jimenez Perez and left him dying in an alley in east Bakersfield.

The fates of four of the juveniles allegedly involved in the beating have been decided. The trial of the remaining teen and alleged ringleader of the group — 15-year-old Demitris King — began Monday morning.

Despite the seriousness of the crime, one witness called Monday seemed to take the proceedings as a joke.

Jose Moreno, a friend of King’s, sauntered in the courtroom smiling and bounded up the steps of the witness stand. Prosecutor Craig Smith began his questioning of the teen by asking where he lived.

Moreno responded by pleading his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, adding, “I got nothing to say.” King burst out laughing and several King family members smiled and quietly laughed to themselves.

Smith continued to ask questions of Moreno, many to which he responded, “I plead the Fifth.” He looked at King every now and then before answering.

When his questioning was over, Moreno made a hand signal to King family members as he left the courtroom. Judge Jon Stuebbe had seen enough.

“Bring that young punk back in here,” Stuebbe told the bailiff.

Moreno was called back inside and Stuebbe told him if he ever sees Moreno disrespect his courtroom again by flashing a gang sign he’ll hold him in contempt of court. Moreno denied flashing a gang sign.

“Don’t be making stupid denials,” Stuebbe said. “I saw you do it.”

The issue of gang involvement has hovered over this case since it first began. Smith said several of the teens have gang connections.

It was decided not to prosecute the gang enhancements in King’s case, however, because it would add several more days to the trial and would not add any time to his sentence. King can only be held until his 25th birthday if convicted because he’s being tried as a juvenile.

Three of the boys who participated in the beating of Perez have already been sentenced to 25 years to life. But since Nathaniel Johnson Jr., 14, William Wandick III, 14, and Robert Smith III, 13, were all tried as juveniles they, like King, can only be held until they’re 25.

The fifth teen, Christopher Jones, 14, was ruled incompetent to stand trial.

Posted in the News interest group.
Topics: ezequiel perez, demitris king, Beating, death
posted by BreakingNewsTeam on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 01:11 PM
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22 comments from 12 users

1

posted by kerncboy26 on Nov 17, 2008 at 03:20 PM

SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER NORMAL DAY BAKERSSSSFIELDDDDD

posted by michele1075 on Nov 17, 2008 at 03:22 PM

The judge should have held the little punk Jose anyways.  Jose Morenos parents should be ashamed of having raised such a fine young man.  Real cute and funny he pleads the fifth, someone probably had to explain that to the moron.  And for the Kings friends and family to laugh about it, give me a break.   That is total disrespect to the Perez family. 

While going into court they should be checking for warrants to see how many more extra people they can put away.

posted by timec on Nov 17, 2008 at 04:21 PM

Juvenile court needs to drop the charges against King.

He thinks this is funny and this is just a big game... he needs to be charged as an adult so he will know this is not joke. His ghetto no good for nothing mom probably told him the most they can give you is 10 years (which they will probably give him anyway).

Nothing is funny! A man is dead! I am done with these young worthless punks. You all were right. they will be released and kill again. Their moms will cry Kern County is racist...GOOD!

Kern County needs to bust out some Klan Kounty justice on these little bastards.

 

posted by nine18kk on Nov 17, 2008 at 04:29 PM

These thugs are nothing but terrorists who think they rule the city.  It's incidents like these we should be protesting and writing to our representatives about.  Laws should be in place and strongly enforced that imprison the parents as well as the teens.  And none of this working out, library crap; bring back chain gangs and manual labor. 

posted by Ed1936 on Nov 17, 2008 at 09:06 PM

No consequences, No real curfew, No parent responsibility, No accountability.

It’s no wonder the breeders of these juvenile delinquents keep breeding criminals.

Until the parents get arrested and punished along side with their delinquent children. I don’t think the problem will go away. Hold the parents accountable; believe me, if the parent of one of these delinquents thought for an instant they would be arrested for something their child did they would start watching them.  

 

http://people.bakersfield.c...

 

posted by Ed1936 on Nov 17, 2008 at 09:43 PM

Demitris King caused; pain, suffering, torture, then the murder of an innocent man.

 Demitris King; is a wild Dog, who needs to be put down.

 

posted by tkozy on Nov 18, 2008 at 07:10 AM

Ed,

I have no desire to diminish the responsibilities of a parent.

But will you please explain to me the consequences of a 16 year old child's refusal to go to school.

Then please explain to me the consequences to the parent if they put the unruly child out onto the street. Or if the parent would choose corporal punishment.

 

I have no knowledge of the parents involvement in this case. If there is no involvement. There is no crime. No more criminal responsibility than if your child would run a stoplight and kill some one.

 

You keep repeating the same rant. Your attempt to absolve the legal system of the responsibilities assigned to them by the public. Is unsubstantiated.

 

These are troubled times we live in. We have a 8 year old. Trained to shoot a shot gun by his father with the approval of his priest. This child turned the gun on his father and murdered two people.

Is this the fault of the father and the priest?

 

I think if you dig deeper into history. You will find that our troubles today, are an improvement over the past. A remarkable thought when you consider the tax despising Kern County public are only willing to fund 33 police officer on the city streets at one time.

posted by Angnbako on Nov 18, 2008 at 11:12 AM

When I first heard this story I felt bad for everybody involved on both sides,however the latest on King makes me sick. His mother needs to be slapped for raising such a menace to society. For that young MAN to express anything except remorse, sympathy,guilt and sadness makes me sick. I can guarantee when this young man gets out of jail at 25 we will hear and see of him again. A young man of this nature who wasnt taught anything about bieng an upstanding human being much less simply just a law obiding citizen will not have the skills to pull a successful,healthy life off. I fear for our community when this disgusting little punk is released. His family should be ashamed to sit behind and support  him during this trial. Not to mention the fact they laughed and smiled when that punk of a witness pleaded the 5th. Being raised in a family who behaves that way and doesnt show any respect for the court or to the poor victims family,its no wonder they raised such  a horriable person,that boy didnt have a chance......sounds like he was raised by disgusting people as well. His mother and father should be ashamed.

posted by Angnbako on Nov 18, 2008 at 11:18 AM

When I first heard this story I felt bad for everybody involved on both sides,however the latest on King makes me sick. His mother needs to be slapped for raising such a menace to society. For that young MAN to express anything except remorse, sympathy,guilt and sadness makes me sick. I can guarantee when this young man gets out of jail at 25 we will hear and see of him again. A young man of this nature who wasnt taught anything about bieng an upstanding human being much less simply just a law obiding citizen will not have the skills to pull a successful,healthy life off. I fear for our community when this disgusting little punk is released. His family should be ashamed to sit behind and support  him during this trial. Not to mention the fact they laughed and smiled when that punk of a witness pleaded the 5th. Being raised in a family who behaves that way and doesnt show any respect for the court or to the poor victims family,its no wonder they raised such  a horriable person,that boy didnt have a chance......sounds like he was raised by disgusting people as well. His mother and father should be ashamed.

posted by Btowntv007 on Nov 18, 2008 at 11:47 AM

Yeah, if I was the judge, he wouldn't have gotten a warning.  It would have been straight in contempt of court.

posted by tkozy on Nov 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM

BT and Anglo

 

The public has no control over bad parents. That's what we pay public officials to protect us from.

 

Why wasn't CPS involved with this kid if things were as you say in his home.

 

 

There have been judicial officials in this county who's child has died at the hands of another child. Because in violation of our laws. The official left them with access to a loaded firearm. Do you blame this mother and father in the same way as you do in this case.


 

We need more uniforms on the street. Will we get them in this tax averse county. Of course not.

We will just continue watching the tragedies unfold.

Pointing fingers.

Let me repeat from above:

 

These are troubled times we live in. We have an 8 year old. Trained to shoot a shotgun by his father with the approval of his priest. This child turned the gun on his father and murdered two people.

Is this the fault of the father and the priest?


 

posted by sfinboston52 on Nov 18, 2008 at 12:23 PM

It actually is a sad story all the way around. To bad the children were not raised properly, to bad there is no system to rehabilitate them and make them productive individuals. Such a waste of human potential.

posted by JDubois on Nov 18, 2008 at 12:59 PM

A gang member laughs at the court process, smirks at the victim's family, and flashes a gang sign in court. The judge's response? A really stern talking to and an empty threat to hold him in contempt.

News flash, Judge Stuebbe- you're the one being held in contempt, by the thug. And your failure to actually DO something is what causes all the rest of the gangsters to hold society as a whole in contempt.

So keep on talking, behind your metal detectors and armed bailiffs...while people like Jaime Hernandez face your customers in dark alleys. Maybe if somebody had demonstrated "Action/ Consequence" for these individuals at an earlier stage...

 

posted by michele1075 on Nov 18, 2008 at 01:57 PM

I'm sure CPS was involved at one time or another.  Maybe even have taken the kids, but you know how it goes. The parent does the required classes and/or testing and they get their kids back.  OR......CPS is sooo busy and the complaints never get looked into.

posted by Lingtaowoo on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:03 PM

I'm sorry..but enough is enough...if mommy and daddy doesn't care as to how THEIR children are being raised..then why should WE care...these 'kids' are running around like 'mad dogs'...then treat them as such...they are caught...incarcerated...and throw away the key...be thankful that they are not in the same chamber as the pit-bull thats being put down at the pound...

And I'm supposed to shed a tear for them???..I'll shed my tears for the pit-bull instead---IMHO

posted by tkozy on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:33 PM

Ling,


 

That's my point. There are no consequences. None for the child when the parent turns to authorities for help. None for the parent that runs wild and neglects their child.


 

And you know the excuses we will hear. NOT Enough money.


 

But leaders will look for bonds to build Ice Rinks, The Taj Mahals and swimming pools.


 

They add a tax to our car registration to build a road in Rosedale. An area that should never have been developed. It was an area that was destined to task any transportation design. That area was intended for industrial. And it should have been left industrial. But the fix was in and Leborde was able to push his project thorough. I am still waiting on an article on that trial fiasco.


 

This was a back door increase in our taxes. They want a sales tax increase for the entire county to build a road that benefits only a few square miles of the county.


 

Why not ask for a supplemental for fire and safety.


 

Your going to get a much better response for such a supplemental for the Sheriff and fire. Than you will for a few miles of road that most of the County will never see. Let alone travel


 

Getting any tax increase for any project in this tax adverse county. May be difficult. But It sure would have a better chance than a ½ cent sales tax for what amounts to a private road for a gated community.

posted by tkozy on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:35 PM

Kid found guilty

posted by Lingtaowoo on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:57 PM

And I'm suppose to think that THEY can communicate with fellow human beings...and that THEY are intelligent?

I don't think so...like I said,I'll show more respect for an animal than I would 'humans' running around like mad dogs---THAT is the CHOICE that THEY made.....time to take THEIR medicine---GUILTY!!!!!

 

posted by michele1075 on Nov 18, 2008 at 03:10 PM

GUILTY!! Now sit back and think of how horrible your crime was.  It really is too bad that he couldn't be charged as an adult.  

posted by tkozy on Nov 18, 2008 at 03:18 PM

Ling,

Think that if you wish. But that is not my point.

My point can be summed up very simply.

We Need UNIFORMS on the street.

We need them in every area of the city and county. We need them to be able to influence the daily activities going on in this city.

And we need the money to make sure it happens.

 

You can beat these kids 6 hours a day for the rest of their lives.

But the dead are dead forever.

If an officer had been cruising in the area the murder took place. The murder would most certainly not have occurred.

posted by CatherineBaker on Nov 18, 2008 at 03:28 PM

Good point tkozy.  We'll only have as many law enforcement around to protect us as we're willing to pay for.  No new taxes?  No new cops.

posted by Lingtaowoo on Nov 18, 2008 at 07:55 PM

~tkozy~..yup....and I think we can afford to get more uniforms on the streets...we can start with the monies that the District Attorney AND the Sherriff are asking for.....pay raises at a time like this...they MUST be on dope...


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