BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bryan Oliver's plea bargain for shooting classmate Bowe Cleveland could mean Oliver is released from prison in as little as 13 years. That is the earliest parole possible under the 27-year term Oliver tentatively agreed to. It is possible he could serve the entire sentence.
Oliver, now 18, pleaded no contest to two charges of attempted murder without premeditation and admitted to an enhancement.
There is a gag order --- so we couldn't ask attorneys why the deal was offered or what rationale caused both sides to accept it.
Judge John Lua did not allow news cameras to record Friday's proceedings.
Oliver's family members showed little emotion as they came out of the courtroom.
Although oliver was 16 at the time of the shooting, the court decided to try him as an adult.
Investigators said Oliver came to school January 10, 2013 with a 12 gauge shotgun, a pocket full of shells, and shot Cleveland in the chest.
Last month, Judge Lua declared a mistrial after a jury couldn't reach a verdict after four days of deliberation.
During the trial, Oliver testified he is gay and he was relentlessly bullied about his sexual orientation.
Dr. Corey Gonzales said, "This has been a very polarizing case. When people generally go into prison and spend that much time in prison, when they get out they have to be prepared to deal with the stigmas that are involved with imprisonment and they have to really deal with their own feelings of anger about how the system's treated them."
According to state law, the enhancement Oliver admitted to, personally discharging a firearm, carries a punishment of 20 years in state prison.
As part of the plea deal, Oliver agreed to a 27 year 4 month prison sentence.
Attorney Daniel Rodriguez said, "Bryan Oliver's already done two years and he's going to be eligible for parole in 13 years. When you add it up, 15 years. Fifteen years for shooting someone with a 12 gauge shotgun almost point blank doesn't seem to be justice."
Rodriguez is representing Cleveland's family in a civil lawsuit against the high school district. He says the plea deal doesn't come as a surprise.
Rodriguez said, "We had an inkling that was going to happen. why? because the way that the first criminal trial was conducted and the outcome."
Oliver's sentencing is scheduled for February 26.
Oliver, now 18, pleaded no contest to two charges of attempted murder without premeditation and admitted to an enhancement.
There is a gag order --- so we couldn't ask attorneys why the deal was offered or what rationale caused both sides to accept it.
Judge John Lua did not allow news cameras to record Friday's proceedings.
Oliver's family members showed little emotion as they came out of the courtroom.
Although oliver was 16 at the time of the shooting, the court decided to try him as an adult.
Investigators said Oliver came to school January 10, 2013 with a 12 gauge shotgun, a pocket full of shells, and shot Cleveland in the chest.
Last month, Judge Lua declared a mistrial after a jury couldn't reach a verdict after four days of deliberation.
During the trial, Oliver testified he is gay and he was relentlessly bullied about his sexual orientation.
Dr. Corey Gonzales said, "This has been a very polarizing case. When people generally go into prison and spend that much time in prison, when they get out they have to be prepared to deal with the stigmas that are involved with imprisonment and they have to really deal with their own feelings of anger about how the system's treated them."
According to state law, the enhancement Oliver admitted to, personally discharging a firearm, carries a punishment of 20 years in state prison.
As part of the plea deal, Oliver agreed to a 27 year 4 month prison sentence.
Attorney Daniel Rodriguez said, "Bryan Oliver's already done two years and he's going to be eligible for parole in 13 years. When you add it up, 15 years. Fifteen years for shooting someone with a 12 gauge shotgun almost point blank doesn't seem to be justice."
Rodriguez is representing Cleveland's family in a civil lawsuit against the high school district. He says the plea deal doesn't come as a surprise.
Rodriguez said, "We had an inkling that was going to happen. why? because the way that the first criminal trial was conducted and the outcome."
Oliver's sentencing is scheduled for February 26.