Williams, 12, Won't Be Charged As Adult For Alleged Role In Killing
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
Adult charges will not be pursued against a 12-year-old boy accused of helping his friends commit murder.
Chase Williams, 12, Cromwell, allegedly waited outside while Colt Lundy, 15, and Paul Gingerich, 12, reportedly shot Lundy's stepfather, Phil Danner, in the Danner home on April 20.
Williams originally was charged with aiding murder, but the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office filed documents May 7 requesting to change the charge to assisting a criminal, a Class C felony if committed by an adult.
Additional investigation of the murder led prosecutors to amend the original charge.
The amended petition states, "That on or between April 20, 2010, and April 21, 2010, at and within Kosciusko County ... Chase M. Williams did commit acts which would be an offense if committed by an adult, namely, assisting a criminal, a Class C felony, as further described below:
"By being a person not standing in the relation of parent, child or spouse to another person, namely Paul Gingerich and/or Colt Lundy, said person(s) having committed the crime of murder, did with intent to hinder the apprehension or punishment of Paul Gingerich and/or Colt Lundy, harbor, conceal or otherwise assist Paul Gingerich and/or Colt Lundy, all of which is contrary to the form of statutes in such cases made and provided by I.C. 35-44-3-2, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Indiana."
Because of the new charge and Williams' age, the Kosciusko Juvenile Court's jurisdiction cannot be waived.
According to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office, an initial hearing on the amended delinquency petition will be Wednesday at 1:45 p.m.
