Ind. school shooting suspect to be tried as adult
Criminal Law
A judge on Monday bound over to adult court a 15-year-old boy accused to trying kill another teen by shooting him at a central Indiana middle school just minutes after posting "today is the day" on his Facebook page.
Michael Phelps, bound by shackles, was led from Morgan Superior Court by sheriff's deputies as members of his family hugged each other and his grim-faced mother left his side and headed for the exits without saying a word.
Phelps was expected to face six felony charges including attempted murder and aggravated battery in the March 25 shooting of 15-year-old Chance Jackson at Martinsville West Middle School, about 30 miles south of Indianapolis.
"The evidence presented would indicate to a reasonable person that is was a cold, calculated and planned act of violence with intent to kill," Morgan Superior Court Judge Christopher Burnham said, reading his 10-page ruling.
Defense attorney Steven Litz had argued that Phelps, who will turn 16 on May 5, should be tried as a juvenile. Litz contended that the teen had a troubled childhood and would emerge from prison far worse than when he entered if convicted as an adult.
Related listings
-
Dallas steak house founder pleads guilty to theft
Criminal Law 04/20/2011The founder of a Dallas steak house has pleaded guilty to swindling an investor out of $300,000.Bob Sambol, founder of Bob's Steak & Chop House, pleaded guilty late Monday to felony theft.Sambol has agreed to repay the investor over money the res...
-
Fla. man pleads guilty to gouging wife's eyes
Criminal Law 04/20/2011A man who gouged out his eyes while in Miami-Dade County jail has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for gouging his wife's eyes after he was released.Eugene Roman pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated battery and kidnapping charges in the May 2006 a...
-
Navy contractor to plead guilty in kickback scheme
Criminal Law 04/18/2011A Navy contractor has agreed to plead guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to his part in a multimillion-dollar kickback and bribery scheme. Anjan Dutta-Gupta entered a plea agreement Monday. The U.S. attorney's office in Rhode Island says the 58-...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.