Recently, two 17 year olds in Prosper, Texas were charged with murder.
According to the Denton Record-Chronicle, the teens shot and killed a 19-year-old
man from Little Elm during a drug deal gone wrong.
The incident took place around lunchtime on a Friday in a cul-de-sac near
a playground. The 19-year-old had shown up at the location to purchase
marijuana. Video surveillance captured the incident. In the footage, a
gray Volkswagen pulled into the cul-de-sac. The 19 year old opened one
of the vehicle’s rear doors and got inside. Minutes later, the 19
year old exited the Volkswagen quickly and ran away. Reportedly, the footage
showed one of the 17 year olds exiting the vehicle and shooting the 19
year old as he ran away.
When police arrived at the scene, the 19 year old’s girlfriend approached
them and explained that her boyfriend was there to buy marijuana when
he was shot. She told the officers the name of one the 17 year olds her
boyfriend was there to buy drugs from, and the police were able to track
down the 17 year olds from there. The 17 year olds were later arrested
and charged with murder.
At the time of this report, the 17 year olds were in jail and their bail
was set at $1 million.
Can a Juvenile Be Tried as an Adult in Texas?
The penalties that adults face if they’re convicted of committing
a crime are far harsher than the ones that minors face if they’re
convicted of committing the same crime. In some cases, if someone under
18 commits a crime in Texas, they can be prosecuted as an adult instead
of a minor.
Generally, this only happens if the minor meets one or more of the following criteria:
- The minor is nearly 18 years old.
- The minor committed a violent crime.
- The minor has a long criminal record.
Legally speaking, in Texas, any minor who is 14 years old or older can
be tried as an adult if they commit certain crimes, such as an aggravated
controlled substance
felony, a first-degree felony, or a capital felony.
In addition, juveniles who are 15 years old or older when they commit a
crime in Texas can be tried as adults if there is probable cause to believe
they committed a state jail felony or second or third degree felony.
Our experienced criminal defense attorney in Denton
can defend the rights of a juvenile charged as an adult
for committing a crime in Texas. Call Derek A. Adame, Attorney at Law
at 940.441.4239 or contact us online
today for a free consultation.