Cristian Fernandez Interrogation

3 years ago
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#CristianFernandez
Cristian Fernandez, the youngest person charged as an adult with first-degree murder in Jacksonville history, received juvenile sanctions Friday for pleading guilty to manslaughter in the March 2011 death of his 2-year-old half brother.

Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper accepted the plea agreement that will ensure the 14-year-old won't be released from a juvenile jail until January 2018, when he turns 19. That means he would have served about seven years on the manslaughter charge once the sentence is complete. He will be evaluated and treated for any psychological troubles while incarcerated and must also continue his education.

Fernandez faced a possible life sentence on a first-degree murder indictment levied by a grand jury in June 2011. He'd also been charged with aggravated child abuse before Friday's plea lessened that to aggravated battery.

Upon his release, he will serve eight years of probation as part of the second charge and face arrest if he violates any conditions of that probation, including committing another crime. The conditions also include staying away from his siblings unless they seek to meet with him - he has another half brother and a sister - and not to spend unsupervised time with anyone under 16 unless approved by his probation officer. He also must look for a job when eligible.

A judge can terminate the probation after five years if Fernandez, who would then be 24, adheres to the conditions.

Fernandez's half brother, David Galarraga, died two days after his mother took him to the hospital with head injuries that left him unconscious. Biannela Susana later pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for leaving her son alone with Fernandez and a younger sister and then waiting more than eight hours to take him to the hospital. She has yet to be sentenced.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2013/02/08/cristian-fernandez-pleads-guilty-manslaughter-gets-juvenile-sanctions/987218007/

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