GUILTY IN - Grace Ross, 6, found dead; Boy, 14, taken into custody, New Carlisle, 12 Mar 2021

[Ladyotm]

I agree. When a person, of any age, outright murders a child, in cold blood, they need to be kept away from the rest of society, for everyone's safety.
This perpetrator could have been back on the street in 5 or 6 years if he was tried in juvenile court.

I so agree with this. And I also feel anyone who kills "to see how it feels" will always be a threat to society.

 

[borndem]

Thanks for the update, @JerseyGirl.
We'll see what happens. He's young, but apparently of sound mind when he did the crime of which he was accused. A bench trial should be interesting. Do we know anything about the judge who will try him?
That little girl and her family deserve justice, but it won't bring her back to them. SMH.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Teen found guilty of killing, molesting New Carlisle 6-year-old

A St. Joseph County judge ruled Thursday that 16-year-old Anthony Hutchens is guilty of murder and child molestation in the death of Grace Ross.

www.southbendtribune.com

Though Anthony is now convicted of murder and child molesting, there is a wide range of sentencing outcomes possible, meaning the state's work is far from over, according to Fronk.

The 16-year-old could, theoretically, face more than 80 years in prison if sentenced to the maximum amount of time possible on both counts, but that's unlikely given the boy's lack of criminal history, Fronk said. Because Anthony is under 18, Sanford could pursue alterative options and sentence the boy as a juvenile. If the judge took that route, Anthony could be placed in a secure juvenile facility, Fronk said.

Fronk said the state will ask Anthony to be sentenced as an adult.

"The nature of the crimes, the need for the safety of the community and the need for rehabilitation exceeds the reach of the juvenile court," he said.

Meanwhile, Kimmell said he plans to file an appeal regarding Anthony's case being moved to adult court. In court documents, Kimmell has argued a probate court magistrate's decision to move the case out of the juvenile system was "not supported by the testimony and conclusions of the experts appointed by the court."

In the meantime, Kimmell said he will seek to have Anthony placed in a juvenile facility within the department of corrections.

 

[FrostedGlass]

His sentence:
Case # 71D03-2203-MR-000003

03/31/2023	Sentencing Hearing Session: 03/31/2023 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Sanford, Jeffrey L Result: Commenced and concluded
03/31/2023	Sentenced Judicial Officer: Sanford, Jeffrey L 1. 35-42-1-1(1): Murder Confinement to Commence: 03/31/2023 Indiana Department of Correction Term: 55 Yr Jail Credit: 748 Days Consecutive with Prior Sentence: with Count III
03/31/2023	Sentenced Judicial Officer: Sanford, Jeffrey L 3. 35-42-4-3(a)/F3: Child Molesting-Basic Child Molesting offense Confinement to Commence: 03/31/2023 Indiana Department of Correction Term: 9 Yr Consecutive with Prior Sentence: with Count I
03/31/2023	Order on Hearing Sentencing hearing held. Order entered. Judicial Officer: Sanford, Jeffrey L Order Signed: 03/31/2023
03/31/2023	Indigent Counsel Appointed For Appeal

His appeal
Indiana Courts Case Search - MyCase
Case # 23A-CR-00918

Indiana Supreme Court agrees to waive Hutchens to adult court

The Indiana Supreme Court sides with the Juvenile Court in the decision to waive Anthony Hutchens to adult court. Hutchens was sentenced back in March for killing and molesting six-year-old Grace Ross in 2021.

www.abc57.com

...the decision “best serves the safety and welfare of the community.”
The court also said Hutchens needs rehabilitative services that the juvenile system can’t provide.