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Psychological exam ordered in 12-year-old’s homicide case
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A hearing on a motion to try a 12-year-old homicide suspect as a juvenile has been recessed for 30 to 45 days to give the prosecution time to obtain a psychological evaluation.
Jordan Brown, of New Galilee, is charged with criminal homicide and homicide of an unborn child in the Feb. 20, 2009, shooting of his father’s pregnant girlfriend, Kenzie Houk, 26, with a blast to the back of the head as she lay in bed that day. He was 11 at the time.
Jordan was led into the courtroom of Judge Dominick Motto of Lawrence County Common Pleas Court shackled at the wrists and ankles. He watched Friday’s proceedings attentively but showed no emotion.
Defense attorneys Dennis Elisco and David Acker called Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, an expert in forensic psychology and head of Drexel University’s psychology department. Heilbrun testified he believes that Jordan is amenable to treatment in a juvenile facility, citing Jordan’s strong family support, his lack of legal problems before his current charges, his regular school attendance, involvement in sports teams and circle of friends as indicators.
Heilbrun acknowledged, however, during cross-examination by Anthony Krastek of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s Pittsburgh office, that Jordan insisted he is innocent during the psychological evaluation, and so he did not explore with him potential areas of “deficit” in his life that could affect his chances of successful rehabilitation.
The attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case because Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, who took office this month, had to excuse himself because of a potential conflict of interest stemming from his previous private work.
Heilbrun acknowledged later that if Jordan were convicted of the crimes and still maintained his innocence, it would be a problem for treatment and could mean he would be “impervious to treatment.”
Krastek also questioned Heilbrun about the reliability of psychological tests in predicting recidivism, introducing into evidence a paper Heilbrun wrote in 2003 that stated that one test — a test he used to evaluate Jordan — was ineffective at predicting the risk of repeat violent behavior.
Heilbrun replied the test has since been updated and new data have been obtained about its effectiveness. He said he now believes it is an effective tool.
Krastek also questioned Heilbrun about whether Jordan’s family provides an adequate support system, noting that Jordan’s father, Christopher Brown, may have “brushed off” warning signs that Jordan had violent tendencies.
He noted that Jordan’s father had halted family therapy that was started in response to Jordan’s aggressive treatment of another child in the family when Jordan was 8.
Heilbrun replied that he interviewed Jordan’s father only for factual memories and did not question him about his judgment.
Krastek also asked Heilbrun about disciplinary records from Mohawk Elementary School, which Krastek said indicate Jordan got into fights and threatened another student on the bus. Krastek said the school recommended “wraparound” or comprehensive support services for Jordan, but his father never followed up.
Two counselors from the Edmond Thomas Adolescent Center in Erie testified that Jordan has been a model resident, and family members had visited him 299 out of the 326 days he spent at the facility before their report.
Krastek, however, questioned them about a comment in the report about Jordan’s “instigating and controlling behavior” as well as a claim from his teacher at the facility in her report that Jordan seldom shows remorse or emotion and blames others for his misdeeds.
The two counselors, Christine McCollum and Neil Stoczynski, both said the controlling behavior is a normal part of a resident’s establishing his place in the facility’s “pecking order.” Both also said they have seen Jordan show emotion. The teacher was not present at the hearing.
Lee Shultz, a program specialist for the state who makes recommendations for which facility is best for juvenile convicts, said he would recommend the Lloydsville Youth Development Facility, Allegheny Cottage, for Jordan, should he be convicted as a juvenile.
He said the focus at the facility, which takes youths age 12 to 15, is on treatment aimed at reducing the chance of re-offending. He said the program has a varied record of success. He agreed that family support is an important indicator of success.
Shultz said, however, that an offender who refuses to admit guilt cannot make progress in treatment.
If Jordan is tried as a juvenile, he faces a maximum incarceration sentence until he is 21. He faces life in prison if tried as an adult.