Teen charged in deadly child abuse case heads to juvenile court

Gonzalo Curiel, accused of abusing and killing two children in 2015, may be tried in juvenile court.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Curiel, along with co-defendant Tami Huntsman, in one of the worst cases of child abuse in Salinas history.

A new law mandates only a juvenile judge can determine whether a minor’s case is tried in adult court. Previously, it was decision made by the prosecutor. A judge in Monterey County Juvenile Court will decide on March 16th if Curiel can be tried as an adult.

If Curiel, 19, is tried as an adult, he could face life in prison. If tried as a minor, Curiel could be released from prison by the time he is 25.

Curiel was 17 when he was charged. He is not eligible for the death penalty because he was a minor when the alleged crimes were committed.

The hearing to set a trial date has been moved to April 7. Judge Pamela Butler changed the date to review Huntsman’s documents.

Huntsman and Curiel are charged with murder, felony child abuse and three counts of torture. The charges come with special circumstances that made Huntsman eligible for the death penalty.

The couple is accused of abusing and killing Delylah Tara, 3, and Shaun Tara, 6, and then dumping their bodies in a plastic bin in a Redding storage facility.

They are also accused of abusing the children’s older sister, who was found in Plumas County.

California’s Prop 57 is the law that calls for a judge to decide whether to try a juvenile as young as 14 in adult court. Voters approved the proposition in November 2016.