A 17-year-old boy is being charged as an adult in the case of an attack committed against a 21-year-old man. According to Arkansas police, they believe the boy was a member of a rival gang known for committing violent crimes. He has been charged with felony assault and is expected to face his charges as an adult. His criminal defense team will be vital in representing his interests, especially in this case.
According to the Rogers Police Department, both the accused boy and the man were staying in the same motel in separate rooms on the night of April 16. At some point in the evening, the two got into an altercation outside the motel, which escalated quickly. Allegedly, the teen stabbed the older man in the upper chest with a knife, and may have also injured a second person who was attempting to flee. The condition of the injured man was not included in this report.
The teen was arrested on site and was charged with first- and second-degree battery, as well as engaging in a criminal gang. It is not known with which gang the youth is allegedly associated. He is currently being held at a juvenile detention center in advance of a trial date that has not been publicly released at this time.
In the case of violent crimes committed by a youth, it is not without precedent that said youth could be tried as an adult. This makes his criminal defense extremely important, as the consequences for crimes committed by adults are considerably more severe than those committed by the underaged. Of course, the burden of proof remains to be on Arkansas prosecutors to prove he committed the actual crime, but the support of his defense attorney will ensure his trial is fair and balanced.
Source: 4029tv.com, “Teenager charged as adult in motel stabbing“, Adam Roberts, April 20, 2018