In re A.R. CA4/2

FACTS

In July 2021, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office filed an

amended wardship petition alleging three counts against 15-year-old A.R.—domestic

violence (Pen. Code, § 273.5, subd. (a)), assault with a deadly weapon (Pen. Code, § 245,

subd. (a)(1)), and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code,

§ 245, subd. (a)(4)). The petition alleged all three counts were felonies.

The incident occurred on April 4, 2021. A.R. and his girlfriend, who had been

dating for about a year, got into an argument at the girlfriend’s mother’s house. A.R. left,

but returned later to retrieve his belongings, which the girlfriend had set out on the porch.

Against the girlfriend’s wishes, A.R. came back inside the house, and their argument

escalated.

The girlfriend testified that A.R. began punching her in the face and arms, and

when she fell to the floor, he bit her and kicked her in the stomach. She noticed a knife

nearby, grabbed the blade, and was cut when A.R. flung it across the room. Then A.R.

pinned her against the wall and choked her with one hand for five to 10 seconds before

fleeing to a neighbor’s house. As soon as he was gone, she called…