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Teens Plead to Manslaughter in Fatal Beating of Classmate in Las Vegas
Four teenagers in Las Vegas who were involved in the brutal beating of their classmate, Jonathan Lewis Jr., have reached a plea agreement that significantly reduces their potential punishment. The boys, who were aged 16 and 17 at the time of the incident in November 2022, faced second-degree murder charges but have instead admitted to manslaughter.
Jonathan Lewis Jr., 17, succumbed to severe head injuries several days after the assault, which occurred after a dispute related to stolen items. Witnesses described the attack as particularly vicious, with Jonathan being stomped, kicked, and punched until he lost consciousness.
The teenagers involved—Treavion Randolph, Dontral Beaver, Gianni Robinson, and Damien Hernandez—are now all 17, except for Hernandez, who recently turned 18. Initially facing prosecution as adults, their plea deal allows them to serve time in juvenile detention, the exact duration of which remains unspecified.
Lewis’s mother, Melissa Ready, expressed her outrage over the plea agreement, highlighting the lack of accountability for her son’s death. She criticized the justice system for failing to provide what she believes to be appropriate punishment. “There’s literally no one being held accountable with true punishment for my son’s murder. It’s disgusting,” she remarked to local media.
Moreover, Ready disclosed that she was not informed about the plea deal until after it had been finalized, raising questions about the transparency of the judicial process. “They knew when they were stomping on my child’s head that he was going to die. They should be accountable as adults,” she stated, arguing that the actions taken by the teens were an adult choice.
Legal experts note that under Nevada law, children as young as 13 can be charged with murder. However, if juveniles are convicted in Clark County, they may remain in detention until they reach 21 years of age. They could be eligible for earlier release on parole contingent upon successful rehabilitation.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson defended the decision to accept the plea deal, citing the challenging nature of the case if it were to proceed to trial. He indicated that the juvenile justice system could offer better resources for rehabilitation, emphasizing a balance between accountability and the potential for reformation.
The attack on Jonathan Lewis Jr. occurred on November 1 in an alley adjacent to Rancho High School. Video footage that surfaced on social media indicates that Jonathan had taken off his shirt in anticipation of a fight over stolen headphones and a vape pen. The situation escalated quickly as he was overpowered by a group of approximately ten students who brought him to the ground.
After being discovered unresponsive by a passerby, Jonathan was transported back to the school, where staff attempted resuscitation efforts before he was ultimately taken to a hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away six days following the incident due to what authorities described as “non-survivable head trauma.” Following the assault, nine students ranging from ages 13 to 17 were apprehended in connection with the events surrounding Jonathan’s tragic demise.
Damien Hernandez’s attorney, Karen Connolly, conveyed that Hernandez “deeply regrets his participation in the melee which resulted in Jonathan’s tragic death.” Connolly emphasized that Hernandez is prepared to accept all punishment related to his involvement.
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