Three teens sentenced to prison for beating death of Rancho student

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Three other teens, initially charged with murder and fatally beating a 17-year-old Rancho High School classmate, were ordered to commit to a juvenile detention center and complete other programs.

Dontral Beaver, 17, Damien Hernandez, 18, and Treavion Randolph, 17, appeared before Judge Linda Marquis Monday in the Family Court building on Pecos and Bonanza. The trio learned their fate after accepting a plea deal in September for participating in the fatal stabbing of Jonathan Lewis Jr.

All three were ordered to attend one of three state facilities operated by the Division of Children and Family Services and complete various rehabilitation programs, which differed depending on the defendant.

Each teen admitted guilt as part of their plea bargain. That reduced the second-degree murder and conspiracy charges they faced in adult court. to voluntary manslaughter and moved their files Back in juvenile court. The three men were initially charged as adults because of a state law requiring certification of a person 16 or older charged with murder.

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Lewis’ mother, Mellisa Ready, appeared in person to read a victim impact statement while holding a photo of her son, taken while he was in hospital after the attack.

“I think the world needs to see what these students did to my baby,” Ready said. “They destroyed the greatest achievement of my life like he was nothing but a piece of trash.”

Ready has spoken out repeatedly against the plea deals offered to the defendants by the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. She spoke for less than two minutes in court but spoke of the continuing impact of that day on her family.

“My son, who is now 5 years old, will one day see the videos of his older brother being beaten to death,” Ready said. “You will never be able to undo the damage you have done. Jonathan will be gone from our lives forever because of your actions.”

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested nine of the 10 teens accused of involvement in the incident. Five of the cases remained in juvenile court because of the defendants’ ages.

Cellphone and surveillance video captured the confrontation on Nov. 1 in an alley near Rancho High School. Lewis is seen pushing a student who was later arrested and punching another student who was also arrested. The group nearby immediately punched, kicked and beat Lewis until he lost consciousness. Lewis was taken to a hospital and died of his injuries the following week.

Police initially said the fight was over a pair of stolen wireless headphones and possibly a stolen marijuana vaporizer. Defense attorneys argued self-defense for their clients, writing in court documents that Lewis’ friend, who also got involved in the fight, was armed with a small knife as seen in a cellphone video.

Another defendant, Gianni Robinson, is scheduled to appear in court in late September. He is accompanied by Beaver, Hernandez and Randolph. accepted their plea together.