In re J.W. CA1/4

BACKGROUND

On October 2, 2023, the Contra Costa County District Attorney filed a wardship petition under Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 602 alleging that J.W. committed four felony offenses rising from a single incident. On October 27, then 14-year-old J.W. pled no contest to one felony count of reckless driving to evade a peace officer (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)) and one misdemeanor count of unlawful carrying of a loaded firearm in a vehicle (Pen. Code, § 25850, subd. (a)). According to the probation department’s report prepared for the disposition hearing, on September 28, 2023, a Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy saw a speeding Honda going through red traffic lights. After a high-speed chase, the vehicle stopped and J.W. and another male jumped out of the window and ran away. The deputy saw J.W. holding an object against his body and later found a firearm in the bushes where J.W. was found hiding. At his disposition hearing, J.W. was released on home supervision for 90 days and ordered to complete the Briones Youth Academy’s Community Pathway Program (Community Pathway). In December 2023, the district attorney filed a supplemental wardship petition alleging,…