Exceptional sentence for two teens in slaying

Two boys — whose actions the court called cruel and particularly heinous — were given exceptional sentences yesterday in King County Juvenile Court for their involvement in the death of 16-year-old Dustin Rakestraw.

Rakestraw was killed Oct. 16 near the Shoreline Library after a 14-year-old took a stolen gun from Rakestraw's backpack. The boy cocked the gun and pointed it at Rakestraw's face. As Rakestraw tried to push it away, the gun went off.

Rather than calling for medical help, the 14-year-old and a 13-year-old took the wounded Rakestraw into the woods, where he died. They returned in the next few days to show other youths.

The crime was discovered after an older student saw the body and called police.

Judge Dale Ramerman said the crime called for exceptional sentences, particularly because the boys dragged Rakestraw into the woods while he still was alive.

The 14-year-old, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March, was given two weeks less than two years in detention (102 weeks). The standard range, with additional time because a firearm was used, would have been 41 to 62 weeks.

The younger boy, who pleaded guilty to second-degree rendering criminal assistance, was sentenced to five months in detention. The standard range is 30 days.

Nancy Bartley can be reached at 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com.