Mexican judge finds 14-year-old U.S. citizen guilty of beheadings

**Curt James** · 07-26-2011, 07:01 PM

Mexican judge finds 14-year-old U.S. citizen guilty of beheadings

By Rafael Romo, Senior Latin American Affairs Editor

UPDATED: 07:33 PM EDT 07.26.11

A 14-year-old American citizen has been found guilty in a Mexican court of torturing and beheading at least four people and kidnapping three others.

Judge Jose Luis Jaimes sentenced the teenager, known as "El Ponchis" ("The Cloak") to three years in a correctional facility -- the maximum sentence allowed under Mexican law because of his age.

The teen also must pay a 4.5 million-peso fine (about $400,000).

Mexican authorities also said the 14-year-old was responsible for at least three kidnappings as an operative for the South Pacific Cartel.

The teenager's age -- and his on-camera description of the slayings -- brought international attention to the case. Analysts said the dramatic example showed how Mexican drug gangs were increasingly recruiting youths.

Neither the public nor the media had access to the trial because of the defendant's age. Only the judge, attorneys, family members and a human rights observer were inside the courtroom.

Prosecutors called 43 witnesses to the stand during six days of testimony that ended Monday, prosecutor Jose Manuel Serrano Salmero said.

There were no witnesses for the defense, juvenile court spokesman Irvin Vergara said.

Family members were present, but Vergara wouldn't specify who was at the trial held in Miacatlan, near the central Mexican city of Cuernavaca.

According to Vergara, the defendant showed good behavior during the proceedings that normally began at 9 a.m. and lasted until the early evening.

"He was calm, relaxed, and serious. There were no interruptions or disturbances during the trial," he said.

Shortly after authorities apprehended him, the slim teenager with curly hair answered reporters' questions.

"How many have you killed?" one reporter asks. "Four," responds the accused, who seems calm and collected in a video of the interview.

"How did you execute them?" the questioner continues. "I slit their throats," the teen replies.

Authorities recorded the video only hours after they arrested the teenager near Mexico City last December as he was allegedly trying to catch a flight to Tijuana to flee to the United States.

A YouTube video that circulated last year purportedly showed the teenager beating a man with a two-by-four while the man was tied at the wrists and hanging from the ceiling, as other young people watched.

From CNN.com

###

What I want to know is why those murdered were murdered. Directed by the South Pacific Cartel?

Max sentence is three years. Hnh. Ain't that something?

**MDR** · 07-26-2011, 07:09 PM

Lovely story. Mexican drug cartels are not above any level of violence as a means to get what they want.

**DOMS** · 07-26-2011, 07:56 PM

Eh, he's really just a Mexican anyway.

Even if he wasn't, he should be punished anyway. Just like the Mexican that the US just executed for murder. The real shame is that, oddly enough, Mexico doesn't have the death penalty.

**GearsMcGilf** · 07-26-2011, 08:03 PM

Those drug cartels are ruthless. A few years ago, in an apartment complex just 4-5 miles from my house, 4 Mexican men were tied up, electrocuted with an extension cord, then shot in the head by drug dealers that they had apparently stolen $ from. Supposedly, they were runners and tried to keep some of the cash for themselves. What a wonderful thing open borders and multiculturalism have turned out to be.

**MDR** · 07-26-2011, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

Eh, he's really just a Mexican anyway.

Even if he wasn't, he should be punished anyway. Just like the Mexican that the US just executed for murder. The real shame is that, oddly enough, Mexico doesn't have the death penalty.

I suspect after a few years in a Mexican prison, he'll wish he was dead.

**Curt James** · 07-26-2011, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

Eh, he's really just a Mexican anyway.

Who is?

The killer is a U.S. citizen.

Originally Posted by DOMS

Even if he wasn't, he should be punished anyway. Just like the Mexican that the US just executed for murder. The real shame is that, oddly enough, Mexico doesn't have the death penalty.

The judge agreed. To the tune of three years and $400,000.

**DOMS** · 07-26-2011, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Curt James

Who is?

The killer is a U.S. citizen.

The law may believe that just because a woman ran across the border and squirted out a kid, makes the kid an American. I don't.

Originally Posted by Curt James

The judge agreed. To the tune of three years and $400,000.

The judge didn't agree enough. Three years? Really?

**ANIMALHAUS** · 07-27-2011, 07:51 AM

He should be shot in the fucking head.

**Muscle_Girl** · 07-27-2011, 08:54 AM

Every time one of these scenarios involving a kid come up, I try so hard not to come and post. This is obviously an influenced teen, if not brainwashed. He has become a drone, did anyone think that maybe he is just taking the fall for one of his bosses? I hope that they can give him some therapy, he certainly needs it, I doubt the damage in his brain reversible tho.

**Chubby** · 07-27-2011, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Muscle_Girl

Every time one of these scenarios involving a kid come up, I try so hard not to come and post. This is obviously an influenced teen, if not brainwashed. He has become a drone, did anyone think that maybe he is just taking the fall for one of his bosses? I hope that they can give him some therapy, he certainly needs it, I doubt the damage in his brain reversible tho.

The mind can be transformed with a right approach. Mind is a fore runner of all actions. If we fix his mind we fix the whole person. But ofcourse we don't have money and patience for it.

**REDDOG309** · 07-27-2011, 09:11 AM

A bullet to the head only cost 50 cents........

**Chubby** · 07-27-2011, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by REDDOG309

A bullet to the head only cost 50 cents........

Putting a bandaid over a wound is always cheap.

**brad1224** · 07-27-2011, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by REDDOG309

A bullet to the head only cost 50 cents........

ha

**DOMS** · 07-27-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by REDDOG309

A bullet to the head only cost 50 cents........

True, but a hammer is reusable. Think green!

**GearsMcGilf** · 07-27-2011, 10:47 AM

Drowning is a green method also. Of course, we don't want to dump all that grease in the water supply.

**REDDOG309** · 07-27-2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Chubby

Putting a bandaid over a wound is always cheap.

Its like a piece of appliance, sometimes they come out of the factory with bad wireing and you have to junk it, because to rebuild the thing would cost more than its worth. If a person is 14 and they have already killed 4 people, than thats faulty wireing, and they need to be scarped.

**Muscle_Girl** · 07-27-2011, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by REDDOG309

Its like a piece of appliance, sometimes they come out of the factory with bad wireing and you have to junk it, because to rebuild the thing would cost more than its worth. If a person is 14 and they have already killed 4 people, than thats faulty wireing, and they need to be scarped.

Hitler.. is that you?!

The reasoning you are using are very similar to Hitler's opinions on the disabled.

**Curt James** · 07-27-2011, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

The law may believe that just because a woman ran across the border and squirted out a kid, makes the kid an American. I don't.

Gotcha.

Originally Posted by DOMS

The judge didn't agree enough. Three years? Really?

Same thing (or similar) happens in the U.S. with its juvenile offenders, I believe. Difficult to accept, of course.

**Curt James** · 07-27-2011, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Muscle_Girl

Every time one of these scenarios involving a kid come up, I try so hard not to come and post. This is obviously an influenced teen, if not brainwashed. He has become a drone, did anyone think that maybe he is just taking the fall for one of his bosses? I hope that they can give him some therapy, he certainly needs it, I doubt the damage in his brain reversible tho.

While I don't disagree with your post, I didn't think of that scenario at all. At least not initially.

Thought I saw another article where the child was motivated by economics rather than due to mental reprogramming.

**SFW** · 07-27-2011, 05:41 PM

And Then Jesus Said.... "But he who has been forgiven little, loves little."

He'll be out soon and working at Chipotles.

**Curt James** · 07-27-2011, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by SFW

And Then Jesus Said.... "But he who has been forgiven little, loves little."

He'll be out soon and working at Chipotles.

Note to self: do NOT complain about order at Chipotles.

**MDR** · 07-27-2011, 05:58 PM

Fascinating how an article about brutal murder committed in a unique way turned into a discussion on how to kill the perpetrator in a unique way, especially considering that the young man who committed the murders will likely die an extremely violent death, considering his choice to associate himself with a Mexican drug gang. I wonder when the video game is coming out...

**Curt James** · 07-27-2011, 06:05 PM

Hey, I'm not killing anyone. Just ordering a burrito with extra guacamole!

And not making eye contact with that angry-looking new kid washing dishes at Chipotles.

Edit: I guess they don't have dishwashers at Chipotles, do they?

**SFW** · 07-27-2011, 06:18 PM

I dunno, but i would LOVE to buy an ICE jacket and walk up in there with ray bans and just stare at a mexican. Then every so often reach down to my walky and mumble something into it.

**flexxthese** · 07-27-2011, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by DOMS

The judge didn't agree enough. Three years? Really?

that's the maximum sentence bruh

Originally Posted by DOMS

True, but a hammer is reusable. Think green!

Friend of mine went with that approach, caught 10 years in level four lol

**DOMS** · 07-27-2011, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by flexxthese

that's the maximum sentence bruh

Okay, you called my bluff. We are talking about Mexican being murdered. Hell, I wouldn't give him 3 years. I'd give him a cookie.

**Curt James** · 07-27-2011, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by flexxthese

Friend of mine went with that approach, caught 10 years in level four lol

Would he do it again?

I mean, depending on the circumstances.

Loved that story about the -- what was it -- the Texas mother whose son had been sexually abused? Didn't she shoot the "alleged" abuser in the courtroom?

...

Ellie Nesler, I salute you.

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