Court denies motion to try teen as an adult

FREMONT — A Sandusky County Juvenile Court judge denied a motion Monday to try a teenager as an adult after he was accused of killing another boy.The boy, 14, of Fremont, allegedly shot and killed his cousin last August. Sandusky County prosecutor Tim Braun motioned to have him tried as an adult for murder.The juvenile court ordered the boy to have two mental evaluation by medical professionals and hosted hearings for the prosecution and defense to call witnesses.The prosecution called two witnesses, the boy's probation officer and the superintendent of the juvenile justice center. The defense called 13 witnesses to testify on the boy's behalf, including teachers from Fremont Middle School, family, friends and a psychologist.Juvenile court Judge Brad Smith ruled the prosecution "failed to meet the burden of the motion to transfer jurisdiction" and denied it, according to the judgment entry.The juvenile court will retain jurisdiction over all of the boy's cases. The prosecutor can now try to charge the boy with murder under the mandatory serious youthful offender requirements.As a serious youthful offender, if convicted, the court would have to sentence the boy as an adult, with the exception of the death penalty or life without parole.He would then go into the custody of the Ohio Department of Youth Services at a juvenile jail until the age of 21. If he had any serious issues during his imprisonment the court could impose an adult sentence.The boy would be given certain rights similar to an adult including the right to a jury trial if he were to request it.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSandusky County Court