Teen Robs 14-Year-Old at Gunpoint — Judge West Delivers Harsh 25-Year Prison Sentence

You put a gun to somebody's head. We're lucky you haven't killed somebody because that's the path you're on. He pulls a gun on a 14-year-old kid and steals not only that kid's dirt bike but also a small amount of cash from that 14-year-old. And the PSI indicates that 14-year-old is so traumatized by this they can't even attend public school anymore, Judge. When he was apprehended with that stolen dirt bike, there was a vehicle associated with this defendant. And in that vehicle were other subjects who had four firearms in that vehicle, Judge. And as if that was not bad enough, he goes on to brag about these this criminal [clears throat] activity on social media. And if that wasn't bad enough, he goes on to to taunt the victim of the UUMV on social media as well. Judge, he is youthful, I'll acknowledge that. He does not have any of the adult criminal history, I'll acknowledge that. But, Your Honor, what he has engaged in is beyond the pale. He needs prison time, in my opinion, Your Honor. And that's what we're asking this court to do. If somehow in any way, shape or form, the court's considering community supervision, we'd ask for shock probation, some prison time up front and then shock him out on community supervision. Judge, again, this is just beyond the pale. And I think the PSI speaks for itself. Thanks, Judge. Mr. Chapin, um >> [clears throat] >> these cases for me with kids your age are so hard. And um, I have for a very long time tried very hard to give chances. Um but all of the guns and the riding [clears throat] around and the that I mean, so you're January 2019, you're put on January of 2019, you are put on probation, juvenile probation. You violated it 1 2 3 4 5 6 On your seventh time to violate, they finally sent you to TJJD, right? Seven times you were given an opportunity. You go to TJJD, obviously you're not there very long because you get out and then in December of 2022, you commit an unlawful carrying a weapon, >> [clears throat] >> evading arrest or detention, and you're again put on probation. You're given another opportunity in January of 2023. So, in this year, you were put on probation for a gun case and an evading case. While you're on that probation, after you've been to TJJD, you commit these three offenses while you're on probation. So, none none of it makes sense that I want to do better and I mean all this running around with guns and masks and stealing and it's just crazy. It's just crazy. Um I don't the jury box. I got to think about this one for a little bit longer. What I've done in addition to obviously just thinking about it and looking at all of this a little bit more is ask and get any incident reports that you've had since you've been in custody. Um Mr. Chopin, I appreciate Mr. Lewis and what he's done and the arguments he's made for you. And like I said before, it >> [snorts] >> it it really kills me to what I feel like I have to do to you young people. But we are in Jefferson County tired of young people running around here with guns. You put a gun to somebody's head. We're lucky you haven't killed somebody because that's the path you're on. You've had opportunities at probation. And unfortunately, those haven't worked. You've actually already had two. You were sent to TJJD. You got out. You still committed offenses. And then you got probation again and then you're here. So all this talk of I'm going to do right and I'm going to do better is just a bunch of baloney. The way you can't follow the rules in jail shows me same pattern. You can't follow the rules. So [snorts and clears throat] at this time in cause number 23 DCCR 0993, I'm going to find sufficient evidence to find you guilty and at this time find you guilty of an authorized use of a vehicle. >> [clears throat] >> I'm going to sentence you to a term of 2 years in the state jail prison. You will receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the law gives you the right to receive. In cause number >> [snorts] >> And these are all just open. So in cause number 23 DCCR 0991, I'm going to find sufficient evidence to find you guilty and at this time find you guilty of evading arrest or detention the use of a vehicle. I'm going to sentence you to a term of 10 years in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. You will receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the law gives you the right to receive. In cause number 23 DCCR0992, I'm going to find sufficient evidence to find you guilty and at this time find you guilty of aggravated robbery. Sentence you to a term of 25 years in the institutional And that's the turning point of the case. A 25-year sentence for aggravated robbery because a gun was involved. The judge also makes a deadly weapon finding, which can affect parole eligibility. After years of probation violations, the court clearly believes rehabilitation attempts have failed. Arrow v. I. W. >> institutional division of the Texas Department of Corrections. You will receive credit on that sentence for any time that you've been in custody that the law gives you the right to receive. I am making an affirmative weapon uh finding of a deadly weapon. These cases will run con- currently, which means together at the same time. So, I am denying the state's motion to cumulate, uh which is a gift to you. Um I am going to grant the state's motion to forfeit the weapon, uh which is a Taurus Millennium G2 pistol bearing serial number T I P 10158. Um I'm going to hand you I need a um >> [clears throat] >> There should be a admonishment showing that I signed it it wasn't a plea agreement, but I don't see one printed out. Mr. Shuffield, I take no pleasure in giving out a sentence like this, uh but I feel like what I have to do is protect Jefferson County from people like you, um who [snorts] have continued to show that you're just a danger and becoming more and more of a danger instead of learning from the opportunities that you've been given. You will be handed in just a minute a trial court certification in each of your cases that shows these weren't agreements. So you do have rights to appeal and you can talk to Mr. Lewis about that. I hope you take advantage of any programs. You're still young. You're going to get out of prison and you're going to be young still and have a lot of your life ahead of you. I hope what you do while you're in prison is do what you're saying you really want to do is get your life together. There's programs you can get out, you can have education when you get out. They offer that and hopefully be a productive member of society instead of going down the wrong path that you've been going. All right, good luck to you. You can go back with the bailiff. We'll get those forms out printed. Case highlights the difficult balance judges face with young offenders. His multiple chances, repeated violations, and escalating crimes led to a harsh sentence. Day. But what do you think? Was 25 years justified? Or should the court have given him one last chance?