Hercules Transgender Teen May Get Charges Dropped After Fight
HERCULES (KCBS) — A transgender teen is expected to avoid a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a bullying incident on an East Bay high school campus.
Hercules High School student Jewlyes Gutierrez is facing one count of misdemeanor battery, but has been court ordered to complete a conflict resolution program.
Transgendered Teen Facing Battery Charge Ordered To Complete Conflict Resolution Program
Deputy Public Defender Kaylie Simon, who represented Gutierrez, said this form of restorative justice is perhaps the best solution.
"I've seen this as a case that would be better dealt with in the community and in the school environment rather than in the court system because it's a complicated situation," Simon said.
According to authorities, Gutierrez got into a fight with three girls on campus last November who had been taunting and bullying the 16-year-old. Part of this conflict resolution program will take place at the RYSE Youth Center in Richmond.
"We want to make sure that the needs of all students are addressed in a very fair way, that there's accountability at all levels," said Kanwarpal Dhaliwal a community health director at the center.
Dhaliwal said it's her understanding that upon completion of the program, charges will be dismissed against Gutierrez.
