"Never Excused for Being Young"... US Court Sentences 16-Year-Old Boy to 50 Years for Heinous Crime

5-Year-Old Girl Critically Injured by Gunshot Fired by Boy
Perpetrator Has Previous Criminal Record

A teenage boy in the United States was sentenced to a heavy prison term of 50 years.

On the 24th (local time), Fox News reported that the Tulsa County Court in Oklahoma sentenced Noah Ney (16) to more than 50 years in prison on charges including a shooting incident.

Nei, who is 144cm tall and has a relatively small build, was tried as an adult and received a heavy sentence because the act he committed was an antisocial heinous crime.
[Photo by Tulsa County Sheriff, Oklahoma, USA]

Ney, who is 144 cm tall and relatively small in stature, was tried as an adult and received a heavy sentence because the acts he committed were antisocial and heinous crimes.

In April last year, Ney caused a so-called "drive-by shooting" incident by shooting at victims while driving a car. At the time, Ney had stolen the vehicle as part of a local gang initiation ritual and fired a gun at people while driving the stolen car.

During this incident, a 5-year-old girl playing in a yard was shot in the neck and shoulder, critically injured but miraculously survived. Ney had a prior record of various crimes. He possessed multiple firearms and stolen vehicles, as well as charges of theft and possession of controlled substances. In total, he faced 12 charges including assault with a deadly weapon and firearm use.

After being caught by the police and detained in a juvenile detention center, Ney assaulted staff members and escaped, only to be recaptured later.

At the trial held that day, Ney’s defense attorney pleaded for leniency, stating, "The defendant’s behavior was influenced by his parents, with his father frequently in and out of prison," and "the judicial authorities did not provide all the necessary treatment options for him."

On the other hand, the prosecution argued, "The defendant committed various crimes since middle school and eventually joined a local gang," and "he also refused various treatments during that time."

After hearing both sides, the Tulsa County judge sentenced Ney to more than 50 years in prison, with the possibility of reducing the sentence after a review in 5 years.

Domestic netizens comment on the ruling: "We should also strengthen juvenile offender punishments like in the U.S."

There are divided opinions on whether the age of criminal minors, currently set at 14, should be lowered through legal amendments, with some arguing for the change and others believing it is premature.
Photo by Seodongmin

Meanwhile, some netizens commented on this ruling, saying, "South Korea also needs to strengthen punishments for juvenile offenders like the U.S."

Currently, under South Korean criminal law, children under the age of 10 who commit crimes cannot be subject to criminal punishment or protective measures. Juvenile offenders aged 10 to under 14 are considered to lack criminal responsibility regardless of the severity of the crime and receive only protective measures such as education or community service, with no criminal record left.

Criminal juveniles aged 14 to under 19 are subject to criminal punishment, but the death penalty is not possible, and imprisonment is limited to a maximum of 20 years.

There is a heated debate between opinions calling for lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 and those arguing that it is still premature.

Unlike South Korea, in the U.S., although it varies by state, laws are generally strictly applied to minors under 18. Especially for heinous crimes such as murder, minors are often punished equally to adults. Additionally, 35 states have no minimum age limit for prosecution, while the remaining states generally set the age between 6 and 10. In comparison, the minimum age is 10 in the UK, 13 in France, and 14 in Japan and Germany, the same as in South Korea.

Under the current domestic criminal law, juvenile offenders under the age of 10 cannot be subject to criminal punishment or protective measures. In the case of juvenile offenders aged 10 to under 14, no matter how serious the crime committed, they are considered to lack criminal responsibility and only receive protective measures such as education or community service, and no criminal record is kept.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

According to U.S. case law, most states prohibit criminal prosecution for children under 7, and up to age 14, criminal intent is generally considered not formed, but prosecution is possible if evidence is clear.

From age 14, prosecution up to life imprisonment is possible just like adults. However, in most cases, minors receive lighter sentences than adults. Until the mid-2000s, the death penalty could be imposed on minors, but since the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring it unconstitutional, it is no longer possible.

Another notable point in U.S. law is that minors under 18 can be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Currently, the U.S. is the only country in the world that can impose life imprisonment without parole.