Meagan Grunwald Attorney Requests Venue Change; Still Being Tried as Adult

The drama surrounding the emotionally charged case of 17-year-old Meagan Grunwald, a juvenile being charged as an adult in the January crime spree that left a Utah County Sheriff’s Sergeant dead, has added another chapter this week. Grunwald’s attorney, Dean Zabriskie, has requested a change of venue because of fears that Grunwald won’t receive a fair trial in Utah County.

Reasons for Requested Change of Venue

On Monday, July 21, Zabriskie asked 4th District Judge Darold McDade to continue the hearing to allow for arguments on the motion for a change of venue because of the interest the case has generated with the public in Utah County. He believes the extensive coverage and nature of the case will influence any potential jury members.

“The ongoing efforts to memorialize [the officers killed or injured in the crime spree]–we see streets named after them and different dedicatory things to their memory–that concerns us a little bit.”

Zabriskie also brought up the fact that court security is provided by members of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and expressed concern about the influence they might have on a jury by being present in the court.

Prosecution has argued that a change of venue is “unsupported by facts or law.” They have stated that coverage of the incident has been statewide and has included the defense’s theories regarding Meagan Grunwald’s innocence.

[For more information on this side of the issue, click on our previous post here]

Prosecution has also stated that since Utah County is the second largest in the state, there shouldn’t be a problem finding enough members to fill an impartial jury.

Judge McDade has set the arguments for August 4.

Why is Meagan Grunwald Being Charged as an Adult

There are several reasons a juvenile’s case may be transferred to adult court, most revolving around the nature of the crime. Even though Meagan Grunwald only has a “limited” history in 3rd District Juvenile Court, two factors have influenced the decision to charge her as an adult: the fact that the crime she committed would be considered a felony had an adult committed it, and the fact that the charges are murder or aggravated murder committed by a juvenile over the age of 16.

Even given these circumstances, there is still a protocol that the prosecution must follow and several considerations the juvenile court would examine before transferring the case to adult court.

If you are concerned that your child’s case might be moved to adult court, it is imperative that you contact an experienced juvenile defense attorney who will look out for your child’s best interests.