In re J.A. CA6

I. BACKGROUND

Resolution of this matter does not require a detailed analysis of the juvenile court proceedings. We therefore provide only a brief summary of the factual background, derived primarily from eyewitness testimony, geolocation data, videos and text messages obtained from the victim’s and perpetrators’ cell phones and social media accounts. The minors, 15 and nearly 14 years old at the time of the murder in October 2021, were tried together at a contested jurisdictional hearing. Text messages between the victim and minors’ 19-year old accomplice, Juan Rios, showed Rios arranged to purchase a large quantity of marijuana from the victim. Rios’s associate Darver Servin was also present, but disavowed knowledge of the planned robbery. When the victim arrived at the agreed upon location, the minors and Rios held him at gunpoint and took the marijuana by force. After J.A. removed the marijuana from the victim’s car, Rios shot the victim in the forehead. Social media accounts associated with Rios and the minors contained several videos taken shortly after the killing in which they are seen smoking marijuana, holding large bags of marijuana, and offering marijuana for…