UPDATE: FREDERICK FAIR CASE WAIVER HEARING #2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 21, 2020

Frederick, MD – Today in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge William R. Nicklas Jr. presided over the waiver hearing of the 15-year-old respondent charged in the September 20, 2019 attack on John Marvin Weed at the Great Frederick Fair.  Closing arguments concluded at 6:35 p.m. and Judge Nicklas will issue his order by the end of next week. The 15-year-old is charged with manslaughter, 1^st degree assault, and 2^nd degree assault. During the waiver hearing today, Chief Prosecutors Laura Wilt (Juvenile), and Rebecca Clinton (Violent Crimes), made argument for the State.  A waiver hearing is a hearing in which the Court decides whether to grant or deny the State’s request to waive the juvenile to adult court jurisdiction.    The State filed a waiver petition on both juveniles which alleges that based on a number of factors the particular youths should be tried as adults, rather than in juvenile court.  The factors the court considers include the seriousness and nature of the offense, public safety, age of the youth, mental and physical condition, and the youth’s alleged amenability to juvenile rehabilitative measures.

 

Judge Julie Stevenson Solt denied the State’s waiver motion for the 16-year-old co-respondent in a written opinion February 18^th. Therefore, the 16-year-old will remain in the juvenile system pending the conclusion of proceedings.