Judge Koester Takes Decision on Transferring Juvenile Case to Adult Court Under Advisement

Judge Kimberly Koester said she'll take a request to transfer the case of the juvenile charged in the shooting death of Kaylee Jacob to adult court under advisement.

The judge indicated she would announce her decision at a status hearing on the case on February 24 at 2pm.

The juvenile is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a stolen weapon, and burglary. Authorities charge that the juvenile was in possession of a handgun he had stolen from a vehicle when he pointed it in the back of the 16-year-old girl and pulled the trigger while sitting in a car outside Kaylee's home last October. The juvenile has stated, and authorities have found nothing to contradict his statement, that he had removed the magazine from the gun and thought it wasn't loaded.

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said, though, that the juvenile's actions are part of a pattern of committing offenses. Kibler also noted that the two most significant considerations in deciding the matter are the seriousness of the offense and his prior record, something with which Judge Koester agreed. 

The judge, though, also noted that consideration can be given as to the best outcome that would hope to make the juvenile a productive member of society.

Testimony was heard from a clinical psychologist who examined the juvenile. Dr. Alexander James said the juvenile is "tortured by the shooting of his good friend" and could be rehabilitated by the juvenile systerm. James added, though, that the juvenile needs to not minimize his responsibility and said such a practice runs the risk of him getting into further trouble. He does believe the juvenile is sincerely remorseful for what happened.

Others who testified were Effingham Police Department Detective Scott Volpi who investigated the incident and Brian Haskenherm of the Effingham County Probation Department who has been the juvenile's probation officer. Volpi testified he'd found no evidence that the juvenile intended to shoot Kaylee.