Teen Murder Suspect to Be Tried as Adult
Authorities recently transferred a 17-year-old murder suspect from juvenile detention to an adult prison to stand trial for the slaying of a Shawnee County man in April. The defendant was only 16 years old at the time he allegedly assisted in the shooting, turning 17 less than three weeks later.
The Shawnee County District Judge overseeing the case ruled the young murder suspect will be tried as an adult for first degree murder, a charge that could land the defendant in jail for anywhere from 25 to 50 years in prison or even a life term, depending on the circumstances of the case.
The defendant’s father is himself a convicted murder, serving a 22-year sentence for second-degree murder committed as retribution for being implicated in a burglary case. The father was only 24 years old when he pled guilty to the charge in 2003 for the shooting death of the victim in that case.
Suspect Allegedly Drove Vehicle Used in Shooting
Prosecutors charge the defendant was behind the wheel of a van from which another suspect fired the fatal shots that killed the victim. Police called to the scene reported finding numerous .40 calibre shells consistent with the bullets that killed the male victim.
Another individual involved in the case, a 19-year-old suspect, was taken into custody in early June in Oklahoma City by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Oklahoma City Police Department’s gang unit and charged with first-degree murder. That suspect is currently being held on a $1 million bond for the murder.
Defendant’s Criminal Past Cited
In many criminal cases, defendants under the age of 18 years old are charged as juveniles and held in special facilities for minors. They may also be subject to sentencing limits and eligible to have their criminal records sealed upon completing their sentence.
However, the judge in this case ruled the defendant’s criminal past made him ineligible for such considerations. The district attorney prosecuting the case drew attention to the defendant’s previous felony charges, which included child endangerment, theft, interference with law enforcement, and fleeing and eluding police.
Olathe Criminal Defense Attorneys
If your child is facing criminal charges, it is never guaranteed they will be charged as a minor. Depending on the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors or judges may deem juvenile proceedings improper to deal with the case and decide to charge the child as an adult, potentially subjecting them to a criminal record for the rest of their life.
For a consultation about your case, contact our office or call (913) 780-6666. The Olathe criminal defense attorneys of the Morrison Law Firm, LLC have years of experience helping juvenile offenders get a fair hearing to help put their lives back on the right track.
