SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A jury took about three hours on Friday to find a 15-year-old girl not guilty of murder. <\/p>\n
Patricia Ennis was 14 years old when she was charged with murder in the death of her stepfather, Ray Alan Hardy, 53.<\/p>\n
Ennis faced the murder charge certified as an adult and faced up to life in prison if she had been convicted.<\/p>\n
However, Ennis will still remain detained. A source told KSAT she picked up an assault on a public servant charge while in jail, but that will move forward in juvenile court. <\/p>\n
Ennis claims self-defense<\/p>\n
Ennis\u2019 defense says the circumstances surrounding Hardy\u2019s death go beyond the murder allegation.<\/p>\n
Her attorney told jurors that Ennis felt she was in danger and was trying to protect herself from abuse.<\/p>\n
During the trial, her attorney read a statement attributed to Ennis: \u201cI couldn\u2019t go to that house and get hurt again.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can a juvenile be tried as an adult?<\/p>\n
In Texas, juveniles accused of certain serious offenses can be transferred from the juvenile justice system to adult court through a process known as certification.<\/p>\n
The case begins with an alleged offense committed while the person is a juvenile. The state can then seek to have the case handled in adult court.<\/p>\n
A certification hearing is held, and a judge makes the decision about whether the juvenile should remain under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or be transferred to adult court.<\/p>\n
Juvenile District Court Judge William \u201cCruz\u201d Shaw said the process is not common.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the court waives that jurisdiction, now it\u2019s 100% adult,\u201d Shaw said.<\/p>\n
That means the defendant is subject to the adult criminal court process rather than the juvenile system.<\/p>\n
Age matters<\/p>\n
Not every juvenile can be certified as an adult.<\/p>\n
Texas law sets minimum ages based on the level of the felony involved. For certain first-degree felony offenses, a juvenile can be certified for adult prosecution beginning at age 14. For certain second-degree felony offenses, the minimum age is 15.<\/p>\n
Shaw said the court considers several factors during the certification process, including the juvenile\u2019s age and whether the juvenile system can provide appropriate services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to prove that there\u2019s a certain age, they have to prove that the child understood what they were doing, they have to prove their probation can\u2019t provide the services,\u201d Shaw said.<\/p>\n
What happens if a juvenile is convicted in adult court?<\/p>\n
If a juvenile is convicted after being certified as an adult, the person can be sentenced through the adult criminal justice system.<\/p>\n
Shaw said young offenders in adult prisons can be housed separately from the general adult population.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost prisons, adult prisons, have a small section specifically for children,\u201d Shaw said.<\/p>\n
Ennis faces up to life in prison if convicted in Hardy\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Why juvenile certification matters<\/p>\n
Shaw said cases involving juveniles accused of serious crimes are something the community should pay attention to because the defendants are still young people, even when their cases are handled in adult court.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re serious crimes and they\u2019re kids in our communities, the kids that go to our kids\u2019 schools, they are our nieces, our nephews, we have to be engaged,\u201d Shaw said.<\/p>\n