In re Ryan K. CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

Ryan K. was alleged in a juvenile wardship petition to have committed five assaults and a murder based on his participation in a series of arbitrary, unprovoked, group attacks on unsuspecting victims. He contends (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s true finding he committed implied malice murder, (2) the prosecution failed to establish venue was proper in San Diego County, (3) the court erred when it committed him to a secure youth treatment facility (SYTF) instead of a less restrictive alternative, (4) the court erred when it set the baseline term of confinement to five years, and (5) the court erred when it set his maximum term of confinement to 25 years to life. We conclude Ryan’s contentions lack merit with one exception: the court erred when it set the maximum term of confinement.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

There were six attacks that led to the charges against Ryan. They took place on six separate days over the course of five months. Each incident was captured on video. A. Attack on an Unidentified Bus Passenger On August 27, 2022, at about 7:00 p.m., Ryan and a group of companions spoke to an older man while they waited…