Utah teen charged with homicide by assault in soccer referee death, avoids manslaughter count
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A Utah teen accused of punching a soccer referee who later died has been charged with homicide by assault, a count issued when an attack unintentionally causes death.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced the charges Wednesday.
A homicide by assault charge is less serious than manslaughter. It carries up to five years in prison for adults, but penalties can be less for juveniles.
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The district attorney's office says it will seek to try the teen as an adult.
The 17-year-old has been in juvenile detention since April 27, when the incident occurred at a recreational-league soccer match in a Salt Lake City suburb.
Authorities say the teen was playing goalie when 46-year-old Ricardo Portillo called a penalty on him. They say the teen began arguing with Portillo, then struck him in the head.
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Portillo went into a coma hours later. He died Saturday.