In re K.G. CA1/1

BACKGROUND

Starting in November 2010, the San Francisco District Attorney filed a series of Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 petitions against defendant. At the time the first petition was filed, defendant was 14 years old. He was born in El Salvador, and when he was four years old, his parents emigrated to the United States. He remained in El Salvador with his grandparents until 2005, when he joined his parents in the United States. After his parents separated the following year, his mother went through a year of depression. Defendant started associating with juveniles his mother suspected were gang members, and began becoming a “terror” at home. On November 23, 2010, the San Francisco District Attorney filed a Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 petition alleging defendant possessed marijuana for sale in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11359, subdivision (a)). Defendant was released pending receipt of narcotics results. On returning home, defendant promptly sought additional marijuana, and shortly thereafter was “jumped” by Sureño gang members at a new school because he “flashed” Norteño signs. Defendant exuded contempt and disrespect for his parents,…