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Girl Pleads Not Guilty In Beating, Stabbing, Torture

Jovana Gudino, 14, To Be Tried As An Adult

POSTED: 6:33 am PST December 3, 2009
UPDATED: 6:39 pm PST December 3, 2009

A 14-year-old girl accused of beating, torturing and stabbing another 14-year-old girl in the victim's home in May pleaded not guilty Thursday to multiple felony charges.

Jovana Gudino was ordered held on $2 million bail after a hearing before Vista Superior Court Judge Marshall Hockett.

Gudino was recently found to be unfit for Juvenile Court and her case was transferred to adult court, said Deputy District Attorney Kristie Nikoletich.

The prosecutor told the judge that the victim was assaulted May 3 in a premeditated attack.

Nikoletich said the victim had just let her dog in when she was rushed by the defendant and another alleged assailant and punched in the face.

The victim ended up in a bedroom and was scratched and cut with a knife, then stabbed five times, the prosecutor said.

After the attack, the victim was told to shower off and was warned that if she "snitched," the next attack would be worse, according to Nikoletich.

She said the defendant went home and went shopping with her mother.

The victim was taken by a Life Flight helicopter to Rady Children's Hospital, and doctors said that if not for emergency surgery, the victim's injuries would have been fatal, the prosecutor said.

A possible motive has yet to be disclosed, but Escondido police said it was not gang-related. Police also said the victim has recovered but still has some lingering issues.

Gudino faces up to 22 years to life in prison if convicted of torture, attempted murder, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, burglary and dissuading a witness by force or threat.

A readiness conference was set for Jan. 15 and a preliminary hearing set for Feb. 3.

Two co-defendants, a girl and a boy, both 14, also allegedly participated in the attack. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek to try them as adults as well.
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