Lecture Notes on Story of Sting

Background

• Sting: A 12-year-old boy, huge fan of WWE, especially The Rock.
• Incident Context:
  • Sting's mom (Mom) babysits a friend's daughter (Six, aged 6).
  • Sting and Six watch TV together but engage in play wrestling.
  • Sting is much larger (170 lbs) compared to Six (50 lbs).

Incident Details

• During play wrestling, Sting accidentally injures Six.
• Six becomes unresponsive; Mom finds her after Sting reports she isn’t breathing.
• Despite calling 911, Six does not survive.

Legal Proceedings

• Autopsy Results:
  • 35 injuries found on Six, including a cracked skull and broken rib.
  • Death ruled as a homicide.
• Initial Legal Action:
  • Sting charged with murder; due to state laws, tried as an adult.
  • Faces potential life sentence.

Trial and Outcomes

• Timeline:
  • Sting's trial takes place when he is 14.
  • Offered a plea deal for 3 years in juvenile detention + probation but declines.
  • Jury finds him guilty; sentenced to life in prison.
• Appeal and Overturn:
  • After 3 years, the sentence is appealed and overturned due to age-related competency issues.
  • Instead of retrial, offered a new plea deal: 1 year house arrest + 10 years probation, which he accepts.

Subsequent Events

• Post-release Incident:
  • At 18, Sting gets involved in robbery of a pizza delivery man.
  • Arrested and charged with armed robbery and parole violation.
• Final Sentencing:
  • Pleads guilty to charges.
  • Sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Location and Context

• All events unfolded in Florida (humorously referred to as Flo Rida).

Key Learnings

• Importance of supervision and understanding of child play behavior.
• Legal implications of juvenile crimes, especially in states with strict laws regarding minors.
• The impact of early legal experiences on future behavior and decisions.

Discussion Points

• The ethics of trying minors as adults in severe cases.
• The role of parental guidance and intervention in preventing tragic accidents.
• Rehabilitation vs. punishment for juvenile offenses.

These notes summarize the tragic events and legal journey of Sting, emphasizing the complexities of juvenile justice and the caution required in handling minors' legal cases.