At today’s 1:30 p.m. hearing in the Fall City homicide case, several key matters were addressed, including media coverage restrictions, amendments to the charges, and requests from both the prosecution and defense.
Media Restrictions Ordered
Near the start of the hearing, the defense asked the judge to bar the media from publishing the 15-year-old defendant’s name or image. Two media representatives opposed the request.
The judge ruled that the teen’s name should not be published and that photographs or videos of the defendant must only show him from the neck down. The judge also clarified that the image restrictions would apply to footage captured elsewhere. That decision may be reassessed only if a Court permits the case to move to adult court
Domestic Violence Designations Amended
Prosecutors amended the charges to remove domestic violence designations from four of the six charges: the three aggravated first-degree murder counts involving the child siblings and the attempted murder charge involving the 11-year-old sibling.
This change was made after prosecutors determined that Washington law (RCW 10.99.020) does not apply domestic violence designations to sibling relationships involving children.
The amended charges will still proceed without the designations, and prosecutors confirmed that the change will not affect the potential outcome if the teen is convicted.
Request to Transfer Case to Adult Court
At today’s hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jason Brookhyser formally asked the judge to consider transferring the case to adult court through a process called declining juvenile jurisdiction.
The decision on whether to move the case will not be made immediately; the court will hold multiple hearings over the coming months to allow both sides to present evidence.
If transferred to adult court and convicted, the teen would face a sentence of 25 years to life, with a presumption of release after 25 years, pending review by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. If the case remains in juvenile court, the teen could only be held until age 25, with no further sanctions.
No Plea Entered; Future Court Dates Scheduled
Since the court has not yet determined whether the case will remain in juvenile court, no plea was entered at today’s hearing. The arraignment, where the defendant enters a plea, will take place after the jurisdiction question is resolved.
The next status conference is scheduled for January 8, 2025, at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle, where the court will review the case’s progress. The discretionary decline hearing, where a judge will decide if the case should be transferred to adult court, is tentatively scheduled for June 4, 2025. Due to the complexity of the case, it is possible that this hearing will be continued to a later date.
The judge maintained the no-contact order between the defendant and the surviving 11-year-old sibling. Additionally, a request from a juvenile probation counselor for a mental health assessment was denied after objections from the defense.
The next formal update from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is expected after the January 8, 2025, status conference.
