LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Clark County Family Court judge has set a deadline to decide if a minor charged in the beating death of a high school student will be charged as an adult.
An argument on the matter will go before Judge Amy Mastin on May 8, according to Clark County prosecutor Summer Clarke.
Jonathan Lewis, 17, was beaten in an alley near Rancho High School last November and later died from his injuries. Las Vegas police arrested nine suspects and identified a tenth. To date, four of those suspects have been charged with second-degree murder as adults. The remaining suspects, age 16 or younger, face charges in juvenile court.
This week, Clark County District Court Judge Tiera Jones denied attempts to dismiss murder charges for the four older teens. In January, all four were indicted by a Clark County grand jury on murder and conspiracy charges.
Lawyers for the teens filed a petition of writ of habeas corpus to dismiss the indictment, arguing that their clients acted in self-defense after Lewis threw the first punch. In denying the motions, Judge Jones stated that a grand jury does not have to prove guilt or innocence, just that a crime has been committed.
The order notes, “The evidence presented demonstrates Defendant’s participation in a series of acts which resulted in beating and causing harm to the victim.”
Court records show the teens’ trial is set for Monday, August 19.
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