Decision pending on whether teen will be charged as adult in Loveland shooting – Loveland Reporter-Herald

A judge did not immediately decide whether any of the teenagers accused of killing Nasier Graham would be charged as adults as a three-day transfer hearing concluded Wednesday.

The 17-year-old from Greeley is accused of killing Graham, 18, and injuring a 16-year-old in the parking lot of a Loveland apartment complex on Jan. 20, 2023.

Matthew Landers and Haley Barton, the 17-year-old's attorneys, called two final witnesses Wednesday, the final day of a three-day hearing intended to provide 8th Judicial District Court Judge Daniel McDonald with the information necessary to decide whether the teenager should be charged. as an adult or remain in the juvenile system.

The case began Monday with the 8th Judicial District Attorney's team presenting its side of the case with several expert witnesses as well as statements from the victims' families before turning the case over to the defense Tuesday morning. Landers and Barton called eight witnesses in total, ranging from experts to the juvenile's father, in addition to including a statement from the accused teen's mother.

On Wednesday, Valerie Sims, a licensed psychologist who was hired to evaluate the teen in the case, said he came from a close family but grew up in a dangerous neighborhood, which had an impact on him, and that he suffered from learning disabilities. .

She said she diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder and intellectual developmental disorder and that he met criteria for two learning disabilities, one involving accurate written expression of spelling and the other in word reading accuracy.

She testified that the case should remain in the juvenile system, saying the Department of Youth Services would provide better rehabilitative services than Colorado Youth Offender Services or the Department of Corrections. She said it would also keep him away from the influence of older inmates in prison, to whom she said he would be very susceptible.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Axmacher, when cross-examining Sims, said his recommendation that the teen remain in the juvenile system was based on two of 14 total factors the court must consider. taken into account in determining the outcome of a transfer hearing, and that its report did not take into account whether the alleged offense was violent, premeditated, or against persons or property, among other factors.

He also pointed out that although she had said the teenager was very susceptible to the influence of others older than him, he would have been described as a “natural leader” during his detention at the child services center. Platte Valley youth and that some claim he led the group of teenagers involved in the shooting.

McDonald ruled that both sides must submit written arguments by June 24, after which he will review all evidence and testimony and make his decision. He scheduled a status conference hearing for 4 p.m. on July 18.