Williams Admits Murder Role; Psych Exam Sought For Lundy

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


The 12-year-old boy accused of helping his friends commit murder admitted to the charge in a juvenile hearing Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office announced that Chase Williams, 12, Cromwell, would not face adult charges for his part in the crime.

Wednesday, Williams admitted that he helped Colt Lundy, 15, and Paul Gingerich, 12, who are accused of murdering Lundy's stepfather, Phil Danner, on April 20. Lundy and Gingerich have been waived to adult court, where they face murder charges.[[In-content Ad]]Williams originally was charged with aiding in a murder, but after further investigation, prosecutors decided to change the charge to assisting a criminal, a charge that would be a Class C felony if Williams was an adult. The change in charge made Williams ineligible to be waived to adult court.

A request for Williams to be released from Pierceton Woods Academy, a juvenile detention center, until his next hearing was denied. Williams is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Duane Huffer May 26 at 8:30 a.m., and could be sentenced at that time.

While in the Pierceton Woods Academy, Williams has completed I-STEP testing and is being tutored so he can continue schoolwork in the facility.

Meanwhile, Lundy and Gingerich are being held in the Kosciusko County Jail. A special cell was set up in the jail to keep the boys out of the general population because of their age.

An infirmary cell was modified to house the boys, who are monitored with video surveillance 24 hours a day. Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert said the boys are being kept away from the general population for their own safety.

Lundy's attorney, David Kolbe, filed a motion in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday requesting a forensic child psychiatrist examine his client.

In the motion of appointment of forensic psychiatrist, Kolbe asks for the examination for his 15-year-old client to be evaluated to "determine the level of maturity, mental stability, emotional stability and any other such matters as may touch upon the subject of criminal culpability."

Kolbe also asked that the "assignment of a forensic child psychiatrist to examine the defendant at public expense."

No decision has been made on the motion yet.

The 12-year-old boy accused of helping his friends commit murder admitted to the charge in a juvenile hearing Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office announced that Chase Williams, 12, Cromwell, would not face adult charges for his part in the crime.

Wednesday, Williams admitted that he helped Colt Lundy, 15, and Paul Gingerich, 12, who are accused of murdering Lundy's stepfather, Phil Danner, on April 20. Lundy and Gingerich have been waived to adult court, where they face murder charges.[[In-content Ad]]Williams originally was charged with aiding in a murder, but after further investigation, prosecutors decided to change the charge to assisting a criminal, a charge that would be a Class C felony if Williams was an adult. The change in charge made Williams ineligible to be waived to adult court.

A request for Williams to be released from Pierceton Woods Academy, a juvenile detention center, until his next hearing was denied. Williams is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Duane Huffer May 26 at 8:30 a.m., and could be sentenced at that time.

While in the Pierceton Woods Academy, Williams has completed I-STEP testing and is being tutored so he can continue schoolwork in the facility.

Meanwhile, Lundy and Gingerich are being held in the Kosciusko County Jail. A special cell was set up in the jail to keep the boys out of the general population because of their age.

An infirmary cell was modified to house the boys, who are monitored with video surveillance 24 hours a day. Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert said the boys are being kept away from the general population for their own safety.

Lundy's attorney, David Kolbe, filed a motion in Kosciusko Circuit Court Thursday requesting a forensic child psychiatrist examine his client.

In the motion of appointment of forensic psychiatrist, Kolbe asks for the examination for his 15-year-old client to be evaluated to "determine the level of maturity, mental stability, emotional stability and any other such matters as may touch upon the subject of criminal culpability."

Kolbe also asked that the "assignment of a forensic child psychiatrist to examine the defendant at public expense."

No decision has been made on the motion yet.
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