A Carroll County boy accused of killing his 8-year-old neighbor girl was sentenced today to serve at least one year in a psychiatric treatment facility.
The most time he could have served under Georgia law was two years, because he was under 13 at the time the crime occurred.
"I'm limited on what I can do," said Juvenile Court Judge Daniel P. Camp, who imposed the sentence.
The boy, now 14, was 12 when he was accused of strangling his neighbor, Amy Yates. Her body was found April 26, 20004, near Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park, hours after she had left home to ride her bike to a friend's house.
The girl's parents attended the sentencing.
Tom Yates held up a photograph of Amy in her casket: "I want you to look at this picture, you little [expletive]."
The judge gave him credit for time served of 12 months and said he had to remain at the residential treatment center for no less than 12 months.
The judge gave center officials the option to extend the treatment beyond 12 months if they believed it was necessary.
Once released, the boy will be on supervised probation and have to wear an ankle monitor for six months.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0805/11strangle.html