Four Milwaukee high school students stand accused of robbing a man on the city’s east side. Authorities allege that the four teenagers traveled to the east side of town in order to commit a robbery. The criminal complaint states that the four lied in wait behind a vehicle, and then they sprang out and allegedly attacked a man riding a skateboard. The group allegedly pushed the man off his skateboard. The complaint says that the skateboarder then ran a short distance until the four teenagers caught up with him and punched him in his head and body. The group demanded that he empty out his pockets.
The group of teenagers allegedly took everything the skateboarder had except his phone. One of the member of the group allegedly told police he committed the crime because of a debt he owes his brother. The four teenagers are facing 15 years in prison and fines of up to $50,000.
Burglary charges involve the prosecutor proving that a defendant committed theft while using force or the threat of force. Here, police say they have a confession from one of the teenagers involved. The circumstances of any statements given to the police need to be examined closely. Confessions, especially those given by young people, are not always reliable indicators of guilt and are not always admissible as evidence.
However, even though the confession may be admissible at trial against the party that made the statement, it will not mean automatic convictions for the others accused. Prosecutors will still need to prove their case against the other individuals accused.
Source: FOX6 Now, “Four teens accused of attacking man on Milwaukee’s east side”, Jeremy Ross and Jenna Sachs, November 06, 2013
