Bullied girl prosecuted for defending herself
Maribel Cuevas says she didn't mean to hurt the nine-year-old boy, who acknowledged to officers that he started the fight in late April. He was released from the hospital after getting head stitches.
Maribel has already spent five days in juvenile hall with one half-hour visit from her parents. She then spent 30 days under house arrest, wearing a GPS ankle bracelet to monitor her whereabouts and is now due back in court next month.
"They're treating her like she's a violent parole offender," said her lawyer, Richard Beshwate, Jr.
Assistant Fresno County District Attorney Bob Ellis said he couldn't comment on the case because it involves children.
Police sent three squad cars and a helicopter in response to a 911 call. But authorities deny that their response was influenced by the setting a low-income, largely minority neighbourhood or by language difficulties. Maribel's first language is Spanish and she and her family members speak limited English.
"We responded. We determined a felony assault had taken place and the officers took the actions that were necessary," said Police Sgt. Anthony Martinez.
The police report said an officer read Maribel her Miranda rights twice, in English. The 11-year-old said the officers grabbed her by her shirt from behind.
"I was so scared," she said. "I didn't know what they were doing."
