The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of one of the two men sentenced to life in prison for a murder they committed in their teens.
Torey Adamcik and Brian Draper were each convicted as juveniles of the 2006 first-degree murder of their Pocatello High School classmate, 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart. Both were 16 years old at the time and received mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole.
Adamcik had sought post-conviction relief in the district court on several claims including ineffective assistance of counsel. He also claimed his sentence was cruel and unusual punishment, and his lawyers appealed after the district court denied all of their client’s claims.
On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled that the district court was not incorrect its decision since Adamcik had failed to demonstrate his counsel provided ineffective assistance. Justices also determined that the district court had appropriately considered Adamcik’s age in his sentencing and found that his life sentence did not violate his Eighth Amendment rights prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. (AP, KIDK, Idaho State Journal)
