Fair use cited.
This young killer was sentenced as an adult to 50 years in prison, eligible for parole after 20 years. She challenged another young girl to a fist fight, then secretly brought a knife to the fight and stabbed the other girl in the heart. There was ample video of the fight, both from cell phones and from Ring doorbells in the neighborhood, and so the facts are not in dispute. Scary picture of the killer -- dead eyes.
15 year old Shaila Hernandez-Rivas sentenced as an adult to 50 years in prison for fatally stabbing 14 year old Chloe Edwards February 19, 2023
www.kolotv.com
Reno teen sentenced as adult for fatal stabbing
By
Terri Russell
Published: Feb. 23, 2024 at 3:52 PM PST
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -15-year-old Shaila Hernandez-Rivas sat quietly during the court proceedings. Unidentifiable to those seated behind her as she never looked back and her long hair hid her face.
Everyone was aware of the charges she had pled guilty to, and the potential of spending the rest of her adult life in prison.
“I ask for your forgiveness and I understand if you can’t,” she said to the victim’s family while addressing the court.
Hernandez-Rivas pleaded guilty last December to “challenge to fight with a deadly weapon, resulting in death” charges.
Those charges stemmed from a fight on February 19th of last year. In front the Hernandez-Rivas’ home, 14-year-old Chloe Edwards arrived to fight then 14-year-old Shaila because of ill will between the two.
This was a classic case where Hernandez-Rivas brought a knife to a fistfight.
“The law affords us the ability to treat them as an adult,” said Christopher Hicks, Washoe County District Attorney. “And this was one of those cases. What she did was an adult action. She took the life of a 14-year-old girl. And there has to be consequences for that.”
Forensic psychologist Dr. Martha Mahaffey testified on behalf of the defendant. Describing the now 15- year-old with a low IQ, Dr. Mahaffey said the defendant was emotionally and psychologically immature for her age. The doctor said the defendant had no idea of the risks involved with accepting the challenge to fight.
She testified Shaila suffered from depression and smoked pot daily.
Prosecutor Travis Lucia in his oral arguments told Judge Kathleen Drakulich, Hernandez Rivas’ conduct was calculated, and the girl reveled in the outcome.
“While Chloe is in an ambulance fighting for her life,” said Lucia, “Ms. Hernandez-Rivas is on bodycam saying quote: “I got that bitch.”
Chloe’s sister Alexis took Chloe by car with friends to the confrontation.
“People say both families lost a child,” Alexis Lepp said during impact statements. “But I just don’t feel like that is 100% true. I am looking at your breathing while I’m talking about my dead baby sister.”
Erika Rivas testified on behalf of her daughter and later talked outside the courthouse. She said her daughter was not a bully; that Chloe was the bully.
She said evidence was withheld from the court proceedings.
“I want the Reno community to know that my daughter wasn’t a bully in this situation,” said Rivas. “This was proved. There were many things in court that were not said. Unfortunately, my daughter made the decision to accept.”
There were three phone cameras recording the fight in the Stead neighborhood that day along with ring cameras.
Evidence the judge viewed and referred to during sentencing.
“The facts of this case are not in dispute and why is that?” Judge Kathleen Drakulich asked the defendant. “Because we have video of what happened here. It is astounding to this court that we have video of what happened here.”
Judge Drakulich implored those in the courtroom if in the future they can stop a tragedy like this from happening to do so.
She then sentenced Hernandez Rivas to 50 years in prison, where the 15-year-old must serve the first 20 before she is eligible for parole.
Shaila Hernandez Rivas (Washoe County jail)
www.change.org
www.ktiv.com
Biggest change is the demographic. You can draw your own conclusions on that.
