Charged in East High shooting, 17-year-old suspect asks case be moved to juvenile court
A lawyer representing one of the 10 youths charged in shootings outside East High School that left one teen dead and two seriously injured pushed Monday for his client's case to be moved to juvenile court, challenging a court recommendation he be tried as an adult.
A prosecutor, however, said the brief time Romeo Perdomo would face under supervision in a juvenile court would not be enough to achieve his rehabilitation.
Romeo Perdomo was 16 when he was charged in March with one count of first-degree murder and two counts each of attempted murder and willful injury. Under Iowa law, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with serious felonies are sent to adult court, but a judge may grant them a transfer to juvenile court.
In cases adjudicated there, any sentence concludes when the defendant turns 18. In adult court, a first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
More: DMPS holds first community conversation around school safety following East High shootings
In a Polk County District Court hearing, William Kutmus, one of Perdomo's attorneys, said evidence to show that Perdomo should be treated as adult is lacking. He criticized a report produced by a juvenile court officer that apparently recommends Perdomo stay in adult court, saying it was "crystal clear" that the investigator was swayed by the severe charges over the evidence.
Kutmus said the report, which is not publicly available, included interviews with Perdomo's supportive family and his employer, who said he would hire back Perdomo in a heartbeat if the boy were released.
Perdomo apparently also does not have a previous juvenile record and has displayed no behavioral issues, mental health concerns or signs of substance abuse while in custody.
Kutmus said the report focused on Perdomo's parents not knowing who all of his friends were, Perdomo having friends who had dropped out of school and his history of truancy.
However, Kutmus said, that's not enough to keep Perdomo in the adult court system, and issues like truancy could be addressed in juvenile court.
Prosecutor Thomas Miller said the seriousness of the charges is relevant. He said the more limited services available for rehabilitation in the juvenile court system are not enough, and moving the case there could encourage Perdomo not to take any consequences seriously before they expire when he turns 18.
Miller also said that parents and employers are often the last to know of a young man's activities. He said moving the case to juvenile court would diminish the seriousness of the alleged offense and that 18 months of consequences would not be enough in the eyes of the community.
In addition, Miller said that there could be a situation where Perdomo ends up in juvenile court, but his younger brother; also charged in the case, ends up in adult court, which he called an uneven form of justice.
Sylvia Cardenas, Perdomo's aunt, testified at the hearing that she has watched Perdomo grow up and has known him to be kind, loving and gentle instead of violent and aggressive.
Cardenas said Perdomo took care of his great-grandmother before she died last year.
Judge Coleman McAllister said he hoped to have a written decision before the end of the week. Cases involving the other teenagers charged in the East High shooting are also moving through the court system.
More: East High School teacher remembers freshman killed in hit-and-run as 'so much fun ... so loving'
Meanwhile, Des Moines Public Schools are holding an ongoing series of community conversations about school violence and trauma in the wake of the shootings, which left Jose Lopez-Perez, 15, dead and East High students Kemery Ortega, 18, and Jessica Lopez, 16, injured. Sessions are scheduled for:
May 3 at Roosevelt High School, 4419 Center St. Invited are families from Callanan, Cowles, Downtown School, Edmunds, Greenwood, Hanawalt, Hubbell, King, Merrill, Perkins, Walnut Street and Windsor.
May 11 at Hoover High School, 4800 N.W. Aurora Ave. Families from Hillis, Meredith, Monroe, Moore and Samuelson are invited.
May 12 at North High School, 501 Holcomb Ave. Families from Cattell, Findley, Garton, Goodrell, Harding, Madison, Moulton and Oak Park are invited.
Also charged in the shootings are:
Gumaro Marquez-Jacobo, 18.
Braulio Hernandez-Salas, 17.
Daniel Hernandez, 17.
Kevin Isidro Martinez, 16.
Octavio Lopez, 17.
Nyang Chamdual, 14.
Manuel Buezo, 16.
Alex Perdomo, 15.
Henry Valladares-Amaya, 17.
Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: East High School shooting suspect asks for juvenile court transfer
