In re Y.G. CA3

BACKGROUND

In November 2023, Y.G. and three other minors grabbed a 14-year-old boy and threw him to the ground, causing the victim’s cell phone to fall out of his pocket. Y.G. and his co-offenders punched and kicked the victim for approximately 15 seconds. One of the co-offenders picked up the victim’s cell phone, threw it at a tree, and stepped on it. On January 3, 2024, the People filed a juvenile wardship petition (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 602), alleging Y.G. assaulted the victim by force likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(4)).2 Y.G. was not detained and he denied the allegation. On August 5, 2024, Y.G. and two other minors attacked a 17-year-old boy. Y.G. and his co-offenders yelled “gang related remarks” at the victim; Y.G. told the victim “ ‘[r]un your pockets, give me everything you have,’ ” and tried to reach into the victim’s pockets. Y.G. punched the victim in the face five times. One of the co-offenders grabbed

1 Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise indicated. 2 Y.G.’s co-offender O.G. was charged with vandalism for damaging the phone.

2 the victim from behind and wrapped his arms around…