Boy faces trial as a juvenile

Although he termed it a complex and difficult decision, a juvenile court judge on Thursday determined that a 17-year-old should stand trial as a juvenile, not an adult, for allegedly driving drunk, smashing into another car and killing a woman, her unborn baby and her two other children.

Third District Judge Andrew Valdez heard testimony from various witnesses as well as arguments by prosecutors who had filed a motion with the court to certify the teen into adult court. He also heard from defense attorneys who wanted the youth kept in the juvenile system.

In the end, Valdez said he had to weigh both the needs of the public as well as what would be best as far as rehabilitating the boy. The judge said the juvenile system is best equipped to address the teen's alcoholism and mental health problems, as well as offer other rehabilitative services suitable for a youth while still keeping him locked up.

The teen, who will turn 18 on May 30, can be kept in the juvenile system only until he is 21. If he had been moved into adult court, he could have faced multiple felony and misdemeanor charges and a possible 67 years behind bars.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller and prosecutor Katie Bernards-Goodman argued that the seriousness of the crime, the many deaths, the boy's repeated lying to authority figures and other factors merited his being tried in adult court. It would also mean he would be under court control for a much longer period of time.

Bernards-Goodman said if the teen were convicted as an adult, prosecutors would recommend to the judge assigned to the case not to send him to prison but give him some jail time, probation and inpatient alcohol treatment, followed by closely supervised parole.

However, defense attorney Richard Van Wagoner said judges are not bound by anyone's recommendations. It is possible the boy could end up doing many years in adult prison where he might be preyed upon by older convicts, and he might be placed on long waiting lists before ever getting any treatment, his attorney said.

The teen is charged with four counts of second-degree felony automobile homicide; third-degree felony DUI; and another count of DUI and one count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident, both class A misdemeanors.

The charges stem from a horrific car wreck Feb. 9 at 2000 East near 2500 South in which police say the teen's vehicle rammed into a car carrying Christopher Williams and his family. Williams survived, as did his son Sam, 6, although both were injured.