PITTSBURGH (AP) — A prosecutor says an 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy charged in the shotgun slaying of his father’s pregnant girlfriend must be treated like a premeditated killer even though his age is raising questions about where and how to jail the boy.
Lawrence County District Attorney John Bongivengo says his “hands are tied” about charging Jordan Brown with criminal homicide. That’s because Pennsylvania law doesn’t permit him to file the charge in juvenile court.
Because Brown is charged as an adult, he’s in the county jail — albeit separated from adult inmates. His attorney says that’s not appropriate because of his age so he plans to file an emergency motion to have the boy moved to a juvenile facility or released on bail. But the DA says that may not be possible under state law.
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February 23, 2009
