Pa. Superior Court to decide if boy is tried as juvenile or adult in slaying

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

Judges of Pennsylvania’s Superior Court may take months to issue a ruling on whether Jordan Brown will be tried as a juvenile or adult in the February 2009 murder of his father’s pregnant girlfriend.

Judges heard arguments from both sides Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Defense arguments revolved around whether Jordan’s failure to admit guilt should be considered in deciding which court should try his case.

Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Judge Dominick Motto ruled in March that the case should not be transferred to juvenile court.

Jordan, 13, who was 11 years old at the time of the shotgun murder of Kenzie Houk, 26, faces life in prison without parole if convicted as an adult but would be incarcerated only until age 21 if convicted as a juvenile.