The Mercury News has reported that a 17-year old San Jose boy will be tried as an adult in the armed robbery of family living in Campbell. Stanford Hauser was arrested with two other young adults after the group robbed the household of 25 branches of what is described as medicinal marijuana plants. The Mercury reported that Hauser was armed with an AK-47 and allegedly made threats to members of the family.
Hauser is being charged in adult criminal court with armed robbery with an additional gun enhancement. Robbery carriers a prison term sentence of three, six or nine years. With the gun enhancement he could be facing an additional ten years in the state penitentiary. To further complicate matters, Hauser may be facing additional charges of making criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon.
Although Hauser is a minor at age 17, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has decided to treat and try him as an adult. The factors that go into treating minors as an adult for criminal prosecution vary, but usually include: the age and social background of the juvenile; the nature of the alleged offense; the extent and nature of the juvenile's prior delinquency record; the juvenile's present intellectual development and psychological maturity; the nature of past treatment efforts and the juvenile's response to such efforts.
Little is known about Hauser and his prior criminal history, but the nature of the offense alleged is severe. As the Mercury News correctly points out, Hauser is the twelfth minor to be charged as an adult this year.
