Letters pile up in Dylan Yang stabbing case
WAUSAU - More than 50 people have written to a judge asking for leniency ahead of the sentencing for a teen convicted of fatally stabbing another teen in Wausau last summer.
Dylan Yang, 16, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide after a March trial for his role in the death of 13-year-old Isaiah Powell, who he fatally stabbed during a fight in Wausau last year. He will face up to 60 years in prison when he is sentenced in July.
Letters from across the country have been arriving in Wausau for Marathon County Judge LaMont Jacobson, who will be responsible for sentencing Yang, since shortly after the trial ended. Many of the writers ask for leniency in the case because of Yang’s age, while others argue he should get a new trial because he should not have been tried as an adult and claim he was defending himself and should not have been found guilty.
“While Dylan’s actions are inexcusable and unjustified, I am pleading for a second chance for Dylan,” said Soua Yang, of Saint Paul, Minn. “Dylan is such a young kid, he still has so much ahead of him.”
The fight happened after the groups of boys exchanged threatening messages on Facebook, which led one group to drive to Yang’s home in the 900 block of Jefferson Street, where the stabbing took place, according to a criminal complaint.
The fight turned violent when Powell began shooting a BB gun at Yang and others, according to a criminal complaint. Yang went into his house to get a knife while other young people tackled Powell, then Yang stabbed Powell twice in the back while the younger boy was trying to get up, the complaint said.
Yang, who was 15 when he was charged, admitted to stabbing Powell when he testified during his trial, but claimed he thought Powell had a real gun — not a BB gun.
The woman who drove the boys to the fight outside Yang’s home has already been sentenced in connection with the incident.
Nia Phillips, 20, was convicted in April 2015 of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was sentenced to three years of probation and a year in jail, which she won't have to serve unless she violates the terms of her probation. Phillips was ordered to do 300 hours of community service, enroll in counseling and have no contact with any of the victims or known gang members.
Following are excerpts from some of the letters filed in Yang’s case in Marathon County:
Pafoua Her, of Kansas City, Kansas: “I implore you to give Dylan a chance to grow into an adult that can spend his life trying to make up for his mistake. Please show him mercy and leniency that because of a lack of life experience and maturity he was unable to show Isaiah.”
Chong Yang, of Sacramento, California: “This scenario scares me for it could have been anyone’s child and anyone’s loved ones (given) too harsh of a trial to hold a child to adult standards. I ask for a fair trial of diverse representation and an appropriate sentencing where the crime fits the charges.”
Anthony Xiong, of Sacramento, California: “I’m a sixth-grader from Sacramento, California. I do not know who Dylan is, but I don’t see how this case was fair when you are only trying to defend your friend and yourself.”
Pajtshiab Ly, of Farmington, Minnesota: “I am a mother of two beautiful boys who are the same ages as Dylan Yang and Isaiah Powell. When I see Dylan and Isaiah, I see my sons. As I read articles about these two young boys, my heart is heavy, my eyes fill with tears.”
Yer Lee Yang, of Milwaukee: “I realize that there is no easy answer to this case and everyone will be crying out for justice for both Dylan Yang and Isaiah Powell. Please realize that they were both young children and neither knew or understand the ramifications of their actions that day.”
Celina Vue, of Potterville, Michigan: “While we cannot bring Isaiah back, we will lose another life, Dylan, if we don’t give him a second chance at life to better himself and contribute to society.”
Darlene Lee, of Wausau: “As a retired Wausau East teacher with 34 years of working with young people, I can say with some confidence that I have learned a lot from teenagers. One of the most important things is that they are not adults.”
Myong Vang, of Saint Paul, Minnesota: “This was a case that should have been tried in juvenile court and this child should have been allowed time to reflect on his actions in the solace of his home with those who have the ability to cultivate positive and effective change in him.”
Jacobson will have all the letters before him when he sentences Yang July 12. The law allows him to consider them as factors in the sentence he hands down, but does not require him to give them any special weight.
Chris Mueller: 715-345-2251 or christopher.mueller@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@AtChrisMueller.