Teen arrested for murder released on bond
The 14-year-old suspect who was arrested for murder on Jan. 13 was released on bond and is back at home in Fairmont Gardens. He has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor.
A story reported by NBC4 Washington says the suspect fatally stabbed Paulo Castañeda, age 17, during a knife fight at a birthday party in the 4200 block of Wadsworth Court in Annandale.
Paulo’s brother Isidro told Telemundo he’s terrified and furious that the suspect is back in the neighborhood. “This person killed my brother days ago and he is already on the street like nothing happened. This is wrong,” he said in Spanish.
Laura Birnbaum, deputy chief of staff at the office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, told Annandale Today, that, “By Virginia law, juveniles who are detained must have a trial within 21 days.”
“In this case, the autopsy and other evidence necessary to go to trial will not be available within that time frame,” Birnbaum said. “Therefore, prosecutors concurred that monitored release was the appropriate course of action.”
Police are still investigating the case. Prosecutors believe they need more than 21 days to present a good case and secure a conviction.
Related story: Juvenile fatally stabbed in Annandale
According to the NBC story, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office said prosecutors asked the judge to keep the suspect in jail until trial, but the judge released him with an ankle monitor on Jan. 23.
The story quotes Isidro Castañeda saying he was told “it was possible that I would encounter the suspect in my community that same afternoon. I got pretty upset, because nobody wants to see the suspect of the murder of their brother.”
“If something happens, it is not going to be my fault; it is going to be their fault,” he said.
Birnbaum said if the suspect violates the parameters of the monitor, he goes back to court for another bond hearing.“Due to the fact that the defendant in this case is a juvenile, we cannot comment further at this time.”
WOW! 21 days is not a long time to prepare a case. I don’t know when that 21 day law was put in place, but times have changed, more and more juveniles are committing crimes are not being held accountable. Something has to change and this law is a good place to start. My heart goes out to the family of the dead youth and if something does happen to the 14 year old, the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the judge that sent the boy back to where the death occurred are all responsible for whatever happens next.
Imagine what the home a this 14 year old murderer is like. The parent(s) probably barely even care.
I couldn’t agree more with Sue. A murderer is a murderer, regardless of age. If the law is so concerned about how juveniles are treated, then lock their parents up with them!
Thanks Descano
Wow, when planning my kids’ birthdays “knife fight” was never on the agenda! But seriously, I guess we can’t force grown ups to be good parents or pay decent wages so no one would have to work long hours/multiple jobs and leave kids to fend for themselves. Not sure if diversion programs are able to make a dent in youth cr, or if more or better programs would attract these kids.
If there weren’t such a vast and lucrative market for drugs in the United States, a lot of this would get better, but more and more people are despairing and use them to self-medicate. Wish we could make life safer for everyone, the pursuit of money wasn’t the primary value of the U.S., and we took better care of each other and the earth.
Elections have consequences
They let a violent murderer back on the streets instead of locking him in prison? What was the Commonwealth even thinking?!
So, to go to prison you have to be found guilty in a court of law. That hasn’t happened yet.
Are you folks just angry and lashing out with ignorant statements, or do you really not understand the fundamentals of our legal system? (Best in the world, by the way, since 1776!, Love it or leave it)
I think Cristian meant to say jail, not prison.
Your statement is the dumbest I’ve seen on the internet all day. Take care of yourself.
Nom de Guerre is correct. However, I sure would hate the be the family of the dead boy and have to see this kid in the parking lot or the laundry room. It’s too bad the County doesn’t have some sort of victim assistance to get the family out of there until the trial starts.
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. The whole point, which should be so obvious it doesn’t need to be said, is that the boy should be held in detention until trial.
Did you not read the article? Prosecutors (Descano’s office) wanted to keep the kid in jail until the trial… but THE JUDGE is the one who released him!