Pomo teen charged as adult for reservation murder

Monday, February 12, 2007  

A 14-year-old member of the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians was charged as an adult for the murder of a 21-year-old man on the reservation.

Marcos C. Escareno allegedly shot Enoc Cruz, 21, in the head and back last Tuesday. Cruz was parked in his van outside Escareno's home on the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria. Cruz was dating Escareno's older sister.

Escareno was charged in Mendocino County Superior Court. California falls under Public Law 280, which grants the state criminal and civil jurisdiction in Indian Country.

A first-degree murder conviction could send Escareno to prison for life.

Get the Story:
Boy, 14, charged as adult in slaying (AP 2/10)
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Pomo teen arrested on suspicion of murder (2/9)