Four teens indicted in fatal Rancho High beating
A grand jury has indicted four teenagers with murder charges in the fatal beating of a Rancho High School student, prosecutors said.
Treavion Randolph, 16, Dontral Beaver, 16, Damien Hernandez, 18, and Gianni Robinson, 17, were all indicted on Thursday with charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said.
The defendants are four of the nine teenagers who have been arrested in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis, who police said was attacked near Rancho High School in November.
Prosecutors are expected to present the indictment to a judge during a court hearing Friday.
A preliminary hearing, where a judge hears testimony in open court and determines if there is enough evidence for a defendant to stand trial, was scheduled for Thursday but was called off because of the grand jury indictment.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich, who represents Robinson, said that he would have preferred for the judge to hold a preliminary hearing in open court. Grand jury proceedings are held in secret outside the presence of defense attorneys.
“I am concerned the DA chose to take this case and proceed behind closed doors,” Draskovich said.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Cases for Randolph, Beaver, Hernandez and Robinson were all sent to the adult court system because of the teenagers’ ages. Five other teenagers who were arrested in connection with Lewis’ death have remained in the juvenile court system, where a judge has yet to determine if they should face charges as adults.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.