The Fresno County District Attorney has charged 14-year-old Raul Renato Castro as an adult with special circumstances for the murder of 4-year-old Alex Mercado of Mendota.
Special circumstances include kidnapping, sex crimes and killing Mercado to prevent him from testifying.
California law does not allow for the death penalty for a fourteen-year-old or a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
The maximum penalty for the crimes charged against Castro is 32 years to life plus 15 years.
Castro will be arraigned Wednesday morning in Fresno County Superior Court.
