In re William H. CA4/3

FACTS

At 10:25 p.m. on February 23, 2013, Irvine police responded to the scene of a collision between a car and pedestrian. Minor was being treated by paramedics. Nearby were a broken skateboard and a damaged plastic hand basket from a Ralph’s grocery store (Ralph’s); within or near the basket were a bottle of vodka and multiple broken bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Ralph’s was a few hundred yards away from the scene of the accident.

2 Minor was treated at the hospital for serious injuries, including a collapsed lung and broken ribs. The police officer who responded to the scene of the collision visited minor at the hospital one hour after minor was admitted. Minor appeared lucid, but complained it was difficult to breathe. Upon the officer’s questioning (for approximately 10 to 15 minutes), minor ultimately admitted he entered Ralph’s, placed the bottle of vodka and other beverages into the plastic hand basket, and walked out of the store without paying. At trial, minor testified that his friend John, who was 22 years old, handed the alcohol to minor in the plastic hand basket. Minor then left John’s house and rode his skateboard across the street, where he was struck by a…