17-year-old charged in teen's homicide may be tried as adult

Now nice in VA if you are 14-17 you can be tried as adult but you can't consent to have sex with another the same age or over 18.

I wonder what judge was assigned to his arraignment, no less by Video, I guess the sheriff"s office had some cut back, unable to drive these defendants less then two blocks to the courthouse.

Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr says, "Under the law in Virginia anybody over the age of 14 who's charged with murder or rape will be tried as an adult after they have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court." She went on to say, "If the court determines probable cause he will be transferred over to the Circuit Court and tried as an adult."

Also if it is the law, by even bother having a hearing in JDR court anyway. I guess that could also save money. Also if this is law then they would have an arraignment it would be a Probable Cause hearing then. So I ask which is it, was it an arraignment where one is informed of their's rights, or was it a probable cause hearing, was his lawyer there, if not then it was just an arraignment. So when does his Probable Cause hearing in JDR Take place..

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CHESAPEAKE, VA (WAVY.com) -- A 17-year-old charged in the shooting death of 18-year-old Lonnie Andrews, Jr., appeared at a video arraignment this morning in Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The teen's parents stood before a judge as he heard the charges: Murder and Use of a Firearm.

Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr says, "Under the law in Virginia anybody over the age of 14 who's charged with murder or rape will be tried as an adult after they have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court." She went on to say, "If the court determines probable cause he will be transferred over to the Circuit Court and tried as an adult."

The teen's father, who didn't want to reveal his name, tells WAVY.com, "I'm so sorry this happened. This is something I feel like could have been prevented and everything's going to come out. Just don't make judgements on any one of those young men. Just wait until the facts come out then make a judgement."

Also in the court was the victim's mother Marie Abbott, who said afterwards she just wants "justice for my son." She said nothing good can come from this for either family.

The teen remains held at a juvenile detention facility in Chesapeake. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for July 22.

Andrews was an Oscar Smith High School graduate who planned to attend Virginia State University in the fall on a full football scholarship. He was killed early Tuesday morning.