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November 16, 2009

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High court upholds murder conviction of 16-year-old

Thursday, July 11, 2002 | 8:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday upheld the murder and robbery convictions of a Las Vegas man who at the age of 16 was arrested for the slaying of an elderly couple in their home.

Deangelo L. Mitchell received a life sentence with parole possible after 40 years for the killing of Flora Johnson, 86, and her husband, Azel Evans, 71.

Mitchell's companion, Shauntay Wheaton, who was 15 at the time of the Sept. 23, 1998 slayings, received a life term also. Wheaton was the person who did the actual shooting. The couple was robbed of $17.

Mitchell in his appeal claimed his right to due process was violated because he was automatically put in the adult district court system even though he was only 16 years old at the time.

Mitchell also claimed his life term was cruel and unusual punishment because he was not the shooter. The Supreme Court said the district court has wide discretion in sentencing and the penalty was within the law. In other rulings, the court upheld the convictions of:

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