Four Las Vegas teenagers have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal beating of classmate Jonathan Lewis Jr. The plea deal, announced Tuesday, was a way for the teens to sidestep being tried as adults. The incident, which occurred in November, was captured on cellphone video and spread widely on social media. The teenagers were originally charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy in January. State law allows teens who face murder charges to be tried as adults if they were at least 13 at the time of the crime.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that juveniles in Clark County, including Las Vegas, do not face traditional incarceration but are released after completing rehabilitation programs. Defense lawyer Robert Draskovich called the plea deal "a very fair resolution." However, Lewis' mother, Mellisa Ready, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "There's literally no one being held accountable with true punishment for my son's murder. It's disgusting."
The confrontation, which led to Lewis' death, was initiated over a stolen vape pen and wireless headphones. According to court transcripts, surveillance videos showed Lewis throwing the first punch before being overpowered, punched, and kicked by the teenagers. After the beating, fellow students and a local resident carried the unconscious Lewis back to the school, where staff called 911. Despite their efforts, Lewis succumbed to his injuries six days later. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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