Teen sentenced as adult for fatal stabbing at Quinceañera in Corning

TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. — Teenager who confessed to deadly murder Stabbing of 14 year old boy He was sentenced Tuesday for crimes he committed as an adult at a Quinceañera in Corning in 2022, according to the Tehama County District Attorney’s Office (TCDA).

Efrain Vargas Jr. killed by then 17-year-old Steele Stewart April 16, 2022. A 15-year-old boy was also stabbed at the party.

TCDA and victim’s family He fought for Stewart to try out as an adult. The district attorney filed a petition with the court, explaining that although Stewart was 17 at the time of the incident, he would turn 18 a few months later. The court initially granted TCDA permission to try Stewart as an adult, but that permission was soon revoked.

TCDA explained that state law requires that a district court decision allowing a juvenile to be tried as an adult is automatically appealed to the state appellate court. The state appeals court in Sacramento ultimately overturned the district court’s decision and no longer allowed Stewart to be tried as an adult. “The appellate court’s decision on this issue in this case was completely contrary to Stewart’s argument that he should be tried as an adult,” District Attorney Matt Rodgers said.

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The district attorney decided to proceed with trying Stewart as an adult regardless of his rejected appeal. They said they believed it was in the interest of both public safety and justice for the victim’s family. TCDA continued its investigation of the adults while awaiting another hearing in this case in the local court, where it would once again seek permission to investigate adults.

TCDA and Stewart were able to negotiate a plea agreement through his attorney as the trial approached. In the plea agreement, Stewart agreed to be tried as an adult on multiple felonies and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a weapon and assault with a deadly weapon. At the time, Stewart also stipulated that he could be tried as an adult.

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On November 12, Stewart was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in state prison.

TCDA said that the victim’s family gave emotional and convincing statements to the court during the decision.

“There is no way the criminal justice system can correct what happened in this case and the impact it had on the victim’s family,” Tehama County District Attorney Matt Rogers said. “This plea and sentence ensures that Stewart will be held accountable as an adult sentenced to a lengthy state prison sentence, while ensuring public safety and providing justice to the victim’s family.”