Utah Teen Charged with Murder

A Utah teen has been charged with first degree felony murder after he allegedly shot his stepfather in the head and the man died as a result of his wounds.

How Can a Juvenile Be Charged as an Adult?

The teen is now facing murder charges in district court. It can be fairly complicated to have a juvenile charged as an adult in Utah. First, the prosecution has to ask the juvenile court for a hearing to consider the request to have the juvenile tried as an adult. Then, a juvenile court judge must agree to turn the case over to district court.

Possible Punishments

When a juvenile is tried as an adult, he is subject to any punishment that would normally only be available to someone 18 years old or older. If a juvenile is found guilty of murder in juvenile court, the maximum sentence he can receive is spending time in detention until he’s 21 (in addition to any other consequences imposed by the court).

Juvenile Court or District Court?

Whether or not it’s right to try a juvenile as an adult is a difficult question, with people on both sides of the discussion. Some people believe that treating a child as an adult may increase the chances of that child continuing a life of crime, while others may think that certain crimes deserve strong punishments regardless of the person’s age.

If you have a child involved in the criminal justice system, it’s vital that you discuss his case with a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Some kids are particularly troubled, while others just make mistakes that need gentle correction. Don’t leave your child’s future to chance. Contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney today and help your child get back on the right track.