D.A: Juveniles Tried As Adults Are Usually 17

Laramie County District Attorney Jeremiah Sandburg says it's somewhat unusual for anyone under the age of 17 to face felony charges as an adult in Wyoming.

He says that while it's theoretically possible to try someone who is 13 years old as an adult in Wyoming, he's never actually seen that happen.

He says people between the ages of 14 and 16 can be charged as adults under certain circumstances. That includes committing a violent crime, such as arson, aggravated robbery or murder. He says the other circumstance that might allow a juvenile to be tried as an adult is a long history of committing felonies.

But Sandburg says realistically "it's kind of hard" to try someone between 14 and 16 as an adult for a felony in Wyoming.

Sandburg says even with someone who is 17 there are several questions that need to be addressed, including the nature of the crime, whether they might be rehabilitated in the juvenile system, whether they have a criminal history, and whether the offense was a property crime or something that injured a person.

Sandburg also says a U.S. Supreme Court decision prohibits giving juveniles the death penalty, even if they are convicted of a capitol offense,