Update on Davis, CA 18yo

[45R]

Some of you may remember the tread I posted about the 18YO Davis, CA HS student what was expelled for leaving a 12 gauge in the back of his car......

This was the outcome.

Davis High student pleads no contest in shotgun incident

By Blair Anthony Robertson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 4:09 p.m. PST Tuesday, March 30, 2004


Adam Liston, the Davis High School student charged with two felonies for inadvertently leaving his unloaded shotgun in his truck when he drove to school, pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor.

Free on a $25,000 bond since the Jan. 15 incident and facing years in prison, Liston must now pay a $708 fine and perform 40 hours community service.

The reduced charge is the second wave of good news for the 18-year-old senior. Last week, the Yolo County Board of Education overturned the expulsion handed down by the Davis Joint Unified School District and Liston returned to school.

"It's a huge weight off my shoulders," said Liston, who had never been in trouble before.

Paul Richardson, the Yolo County deputy district attorney, said the misdemeanor "reflects the appropriate balance of interests," noting that it was important to punish the act of bringing a gun to school but also consider Liston's intent and clean record.

"This was not a case of known gang member bringing a weapon to a school," he said.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Wow! Common sense from a California school board?

I am dumbfounded.

Think they'll take the next step and reconsider their "zero tolerance" stance?

 

[Telperion]

Does anyone know the particulars of the misdemeanor he pleaded? There are several misdemeanors that lead to loss of RKBA for 5 or 10 years in CA. But since I read in the original posting that he's been accepted to South Dakota State U., I'm sure he'll have a bright future outside this state.

 

[PATH]

Sounds like a good outcome. If he keeps his nose clean then I am sure the records might be sealed or whatever the procedure is in Calfornia. I hope he does move out of that repressive state though!

 

[JimJD]

Wow!
I'm surprised they did'nt "hang" Him on that one.
Could this be a sign that some of CA's elected officals are slowly dislodging their heads from their rear ends?
I guess the young Man learned a good lesson too.
Never bring a gun to school, unless Your're on the rifle team, and move out of California!

 

[killermarmot]

That's amazing especially out of UC Davis. My girlfriend goes there, er rather went there. They are more liberal then the heroin fiends on telegraph ave in Berkeley. This kid had a gaurdian angel or something to get him out of that.

 

[Chipperman]

My guess is that they were lenient only b/c they were aware of the uproar it would generate if they crucified him.

Good outcome, but probably for the wrong reason.

 

[jnojr]

"This was not a case of known gang member bringing a weapon to a school," he said.

So... why the need to hand out any punishment at all?

And how did anyone ever know he had a shotgun in his trunk in the first place?

 

[STW]

Just to show how things have changed - I attended UC Davis in the early 70's and took an archery class to give me a chance to regularly use my bow. I'd load it and a half dozen arrows into a back pack (it was a take down bow) and ride around campus all day. I'm sure I got a second look but not much else. As I recall the school even had it's own indoor .22 range that you could take classes. I took a speech where one speaker spoke on the care and cleaning of a 12 gauge shotgun with appropriate visual aids. His assurance that the firing pin had been removed was enough. One of my speeches was the fallacy of gun control. Things have changed.

 

[rust collector]

Thanks for the encouraging follow-up. It's nice to know that things are looking a little better.

South Dakota State U has a pretty decent smallbore team, but he'd better watch out. One of the pastimes in the ag dorm is roping bales of straw with plastic steer heads attached.

 

[GigaBuist]

A shotgun kept in your vehicle and not used to threaten another human being possed by somebody of 18 years of age shouldn't be a crime in any way, shape or form.

I'm happy to hear the kid's not a convicted felon. I'm distressed that this is even an issue in today's world though. I'm further distressed by the sigh of releive that we all seem to be feeling, myself included, that the kid "only" got a misdemanour for it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'm glad they allowed him to plea to a lesser charge. However, I'd wish there wasn't a fine and that he didn't have to do so much community service.

 

[Daniel L]

I believe this was a high school student in Davis, not a UC Davis student. Nevertheless, being in California myself, I'm happy his outcome wasn't jail time.

 

[artherd]

There should have been absolutely no charges, and at worst a small fine ($100?) assessed.

Honestly, I am not too astonished at the outcome. He just got a good lawyer and attacked everyone before they got him. It seems the CA DOJ just preys on the sick and the unable-to-afford-good-defense.

Why? Because it intimidates other poor or middle-income people (the majority) into furthur capitulation and passification through fear.

 

[buford1]

There are several misdemeanors that lead to loss of RKBA for 5 or 10 years in CA.

What are they never heard of that.

 

[artherd]

buford1- there's a pages long list. Basically anything violent or involving a gun (however I can't find illegal CCW on there...) or involving mental incopetence. Most of them make sense. Most.