PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — A judge has determined that Kaden Holland, aka "Baby K," will be tried as an adult for his alleged involvement in an attempted murder on a Prince George's County school bus in May of last year.
For two days, the judge heard arguments about whether the teen should be tried in the juvenile system or as an adult, before ruling Thursday.
State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy noted that Holland had violated probation for a prior gun offense when the attempted murder occurred.
"He was ordered to treatment as part of his probation and he did absolutely nothing to comply with those terms," Braveboy said. "There was no reason for the court to believe he would comply with any terms under the juvenile system."
In court it was revealed that Holland was given orders for mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, among other treatments. He was ordered to write an essay on gun violence. In two years of probation, he completed zero of the assigned programs. Not even the essay.
Investigators say Holland was only 15 years old when he tried to shoot a middle schooler in the head, allegedly pulling the trigger three times. Prosecutors say the gun misfired. Video of the attack shows a teenager holding a gun to the victim's head and chest while his two accomplices hold the victim down. All three teens then beat the victim and fled.
The other two suspects were taken into custody shortly after the attack but Holland managed to evade arrest for weeks. He was eventually taken into custody on May 30.
Holland and the two other teens were indicted as adults in June for their alleged involvement in the school bus attack.
Holland's attorneys made the motion to have his case moved to the juvenile courts.
His defense team pointed out that Holland is "a child with a child's mind." They brought up past psychological evaluations to show cause for Holland to be put into the juvenile system where he could receive 'appropriate treatment.'
The attorneys pointed to a history of Holland experiencing traumatic events. They said Holland still suffers PTSD and anxiety from a previous deadly shooting where he was wounded, but a friend died.
Testimony from a psychologist showed that Holland is impulsive and does not comprehend consequences of his actions. Pointing out that that, as with all teenagers, his frontal lobe is not developed.
His attorneys said that, if convicted, the Department of Juvenile Services would have treatment options to meet his conditions better than the adult system.
A Prince George's County sided with the prosecution. He pointed out, Holland's accused crime is not one of impulse, but planning. He pointed out Holland has a history of not complying with the juvenile justice system. For those reasons and more, the judge said he would keep Holland's case on an adult track.
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