Teen charged in OR girl’s death waives jury trial
Mar 7, 2012, 6:54 AM
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) – A teenage boy charged with aggravated murder and first-degree rape in the July 2010 death of a 5-year-old Oregon girl has waived his right to a jury trial and will let a judge decide his fate.
The News-Review reports that (
http://is.gd/rHNKDF) Douglas County Circuit Judge Randy Garrison will preside over the trial of Dustin Wallace, now 17. Trial is expected to begin June 12.
Wallace was 16 when he was accused of killing Sahara Dwight of Roseburg.
Defense lawyers on Monday also dropped their motion to suppress statements Wallace made to police following his arrest.
The boy is being tried as an adult. A prosecutor has said that because he is under 18, Wallace can’t be sentenced to death if convicted, but he could face life in prison.
Wallace was visiting his father in Roseburg in 2010. The newspaper reports his father was living with the girl’s mother at the time.
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