PAW PAW (WKZO AM/FM) — The pretrial hearing to determine if a 15-year-old Paw Paw student should be tried as a juvenile or an adult after allegedly planning an assault on his High School will be continued on May 2nd.
The defense and the prosecutor were unable to get through all the witnesses they plan to call. The defense claims that the boy was bullied, and that a photo of him in his underwear had surfaced on social media and he felt humiliated.
The Prosecution contends he made meticulous plans; stole weapons from his grandparents, and had the makings of bombs in his backpack and was ready to go.
They read his “to-do” list and a hit list that included over two dozen names, including school staff, students, several film actresses and even Donald Trump.
Unlike many teens in the same situation, who just make threats they really can’t carry out, this teen had not made any public threats. His parents intervened and the violence was avoided.
Whether or not he is tried and sentenced as an adult could mean the difference between jail for decades to come, or therapy until he is 21.
The judge has yet to hear assessments from psychologists on whether they feel the boy can be rehabilitated. The teen apparently has no prior police record, which could also play a role in the decision.
