Locals kick off protest of DA's decision

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A small group of locals kicked off a five-day protest yesterday in front of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, where they pleaded with prosecutors to not try a 14-year-old charged with murder as an adult.
“Even the DA’s office makes mistakes,” said one protester who asked to remain anonymous. “Nobody’s perfect.”


Ricardo “Ricky” Juarez was arrested on March 14 and charged with murdering 15-year-old Luis Angel Linares during a large gang brawl at the intersection of State and Carrillo Streets. Juarez is awaiting trial.
Shortly after Juarez’s arrest, District Attorney Christie Stanley opted to try Juarez, who had turned 14 one month before the fight, as an adult.
But many of Juarez’s friends believe the boy should be punished in the juvenile system, which is more focused on rehabilitation than incarceration.
“If they do lock Ricky up for life or until he’s and adult, they’re just taking another life,” the anonymous protester said.
The protests begin each day at 3:30 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. and will run through this Friday.