Wisconsin Supreme Court rules 14 year olds can be sentenced as adults

A boy who was 14 at the time, and helped throw another boy off a parking ramp to his death was properly sentenced to life in prison without parole, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today. Lawyers for Omer Ninham argued that the sentence violated the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment given Ninham’s age when the crime was committed. State attorneys countered that nothing prevents such a sentence for juveniles in homicide cases.

The Supreme Court found that sentencing a 14 year old to life, without parole in an intentional homicide case is permissible and not unduly harsh. Ninham’s punishment was severe, but said his crime was senseless and “cannot be adequately reduced to words.” Chicago Tribune

The court opinion says: Vang was riding his bike home in September 1998 in Green Bay when Ninham and four other kids, all between the ages of 13 and 14, approached him. They began to taunt him, then yanked his bike away and beat him. Vang then fled to a nearby hospital parking ramp, but the others chased him to the top. Vang asked them why they trying to hurt him, and asked them to leave him alone.

But Ninham and antoher boy took Vang by the wrists and ankles, swung him over the edge and let go. Vang fell 5 stories to his death. Ninham then turned to his friends and told them not to say anything, and they all ran from the scene. While Ninham was awaiting trial, he threatened a judge’s life and threatened to rape and kill his friends because they had talked to police. Judge John D. McKay handed down the life sentence in 2000, when Ninham was 16. The judge described him as a “frightening young man,” noting he still denied ever being at the scene.

Chicago Tribune

