19 Year Old Man Sentenced To 9 Years Under 3 Strikes Law

A young man is looking to spend several years behind California prison walls after he was sentenced to 9 years incarceration this past week. His crime? Pointing a pellet gun at a girl. California “Three Strikes” laws are often criticized, typically for cases like this.

Nineteen year old Derelle Oliver is no newcomer to the legal system, and that is part of the problem. When arrested under suspicion of murder in December 2008 he was already on probation for armed robbery and has had a criminal history reaching into his juvenile years.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Oliver was originally arrested and charged with murder but those charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. Later he pled guilty to assault for pointing a pellet gun at a girl that night. Critics believe he is still being punished for the murder that no one could prove.

Judge David Danielsen ensures those critics that he was sentenced to the 9 year term because of his escalating criminal behavior and past criminal history.

Prison authorities recommended that Oliver would be a good candidate for probation and his attorney advocated the same. The mother of one of the murder victims, however, advocated for the full 10 year sentence.

Even when you are facing charges that are relatively minor, past criminal offenses and your current lifestyle can seriously impact the result of your case. Even if your criminal history occurred when you were a juvenile, it can be used against you.

Whether facing charges of possession of marijuana or assault, you want to be assured that you have selected a defense attorney you can have confidence in.

While it is unusual to see a sentence of 9 years for an assault that involved no physical contact, this story shows that extreme sentences do occur.

Call me today to discuss all of the details of your case and how you can best prepare for your day in court.

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