By Andrea F. Siegel , Andrea.siegel@baltsun.com|October 10, 2009
The older of two teenagers accused of fatally punching a 14-year-old Crofton boy will be tried as a juvenile, a judge ruled Friday, shifting the case out of adult court and eliminating the possibility that Javel M. George, 16, could be incarcerated if found guilty of manslaughter.
The ruling by Anne Arundel Circuit Judge J. Michael Wachs disappointed family and friends of Christopher D. Jones, who was killed May 30 a few blocks from home in what police said was an ambush tied to teen gang rivalry.
The distinction between adult and juvenile trials is significant. If convicted of manslaughter as an adult, George could have been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and court supervision. However, if found delinquent as a juvenile, he could be sent to a juvenile facility for rehabilitation. A convicted juvenile must be released by the time he turns 21, though less time is possible.
Last month, Wachs found that the 15-year-old co-defendant who threw the first punch had committed manslaughter, and Wachs sent him to a juvenile facility, where he could spend up to six years.
"The only way we are going to get justice is in the civil case," Jennifer Adkins, the victim's mother, said in reference to plans to sue the county school system for not taking action on threats against Christopher, as well as to sue the people involved.
From the witness stand, she stared at George. "You are a coward," she repeatedly told him. "And nothing you will ever say or do will ever change my opinion of you."
She told him he committed an adult crime, should be tried as an adult and should go "to the big-boy prison."
Adkins said that on Oct. 27, her son would have turned 15. "This year, we are going to be buying him a headstone instead of a birthday present," she said. "So I don't really care how [George] gets treatment."
Her words came after Juvenile Services social worker Jennifer Beard said that George "is in denial," maintained to her that he did nothing wrong and, despite his taped admissions to police, said he had not told them he hit Christopher. Four others, and his co-defendant, said George hit Christopher. His parents are in denial, Beard said, explaining that he came from a churchgoing family.
"He is embarrassed. No one wants to be attached to someone's death," defense lawyer Kevin McCants explained after the hearing. "I think he needs to deal with what happened out there."
