People v. Miguel L.

Opinion

BIRD, C. J.

May a minor be adjudicated a ward of the juvenile court when the only evidence connecting him to the charged offense consists of the repudiated extrajudicial statements of a self-declared accomplice?

I

Miguel L., a minor, was adjudged a ward of the juvenile court (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 602) upon a finding that he had committed a burglary (Pen. Code, § 459). The prosecution’s case against appellant was based solely on the repudiated extrajudicial accusations made by a self-declared accomplice, Arnaldo G.

On January 18, 1980, at 10:30 p.m., police officers arrested Arnaldo for…