David Chang

Man Who Was 17 When He Killed Teen Challenges Sentence

A man who was 17 at the time of the shooting death of another teenager in what authorities called a case of mistaken identity a decade ago is challenging his life sentence.

Paul Serrano III pleaded guilty in Northampton County to first-degree murder in the 2006 shooting death of 15-year-old Kevin Muzila of Bethlehem.

The (Easton) Express-Times reports that now-27-year-old Serrano argues in papers filed Friday that because of his age the life sentence violates his constitutional rights.

Prosecutors said another man ordered the death of a rival drug dealer in December 2006 but Serrano went to the wrong apartment and shot Muzila.

The resentencing request is the latest in a string of similar requests after the U.S. Supreme Court barred automatic life terms without parole for juveniles.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us