Larosa pleads not guilty in first adult hearing in murder of elderly neighbor

WARREN

Jacob Larosa, 16, of Lafayette Avenue in Niles, pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in the death of his elderly neighbor.

It was his first hearing in adult court after a judge in juvenile court ruled that he should be tried as an adult.

Chris Becker, assistant county prosecutor, said Tuesday that Larosa’s case will be handled the same as any other adult defendant.

Becker said it’s been at least 10 years since a juvenile has been tried as an adult in the county.

Unlike in Larosa’s juvenile proceedings, his face was not turned away from the news media, and there were no restrictions from taking his picture.

Judge W. Wyatt McKay continued Larosa’s bond at $3 million and set his first pretrial hearing for 11 a.m. Jan. 15.

Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood of juvenile court cited Larosa’s “lengthy history of behavior issues extending back to early childhood” and a “history of disregard for any treatment or sanctions that have been offered through the juvenile system,” in ordering him to be tried as an adult.

Read more about the case in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.