On Friday, a Florida teenager named Nicole Jackson-Maldonado was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in a shootout with deputies in June 2021.
Along with a 12-year-old boy, Jackson-Maldonado broke into a house and found guns and ammunition, which they used to fire on Volusia County sheriff’s deputies who were searching for them. The standoff ended when deputies shot and wounded Jackson-Maldonado after she approached them while firing a shotgun.
During a hearing, the 15-year-old pleaded no contest to charges including attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, burglary of a dwelling while armed with a weapon, and criminal mischief. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but it is treated as such for sentencing.
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In addition to her 20-year sentence, Jackson-Maldonado also faces 40 years of probation. The 12-year-old boy involved in the incident, who was also charged, had reached a plea agreement with the prosecution last year and may be eligible for release from a juvenile detention center within a few years. Prosecutors have stated that the boy had surrendered to the officers without using firearms, in contrast to Jackson-Maldonado.
It is worth mentioning that the case of Jackson-Maldonado was placed in adult court, while the boy’s case stayed in juvenile court.
This incident serves as a reminder of the severity of the consequences that can come from committing crimes, especially those involving firearms. It also highlights the importance of addressing issues that may lead to young people engaging in criminal behavior and seeking appropriate help for them.
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