Judge rejects Brooks' appeal

EPHRATA - Nathon Brooks, 15, of Moses Lake will be charged as an adult in the attempted murder of his parents.

That is the ruling from Washington Court of Appeals Commissioner Monica Wasson, rejecting an appeal filed by his attorneys that the teenager, who was 14 at the time of the alleged incident in March 2013, should face charges in juvenile court.

Grant County Public Defender Brett Hill petitioned the state appellate court that the case should return to the juvenile docket after a judge ruled in a December declination hearing the teen should be tried as an adult.

According to the ruling issued recently, Hill argued that the court did not consider Brooks' well-being if he was placed in adult prison or he was behind his peers in maturity when the crime was committed. Wasson rejected those arguments, stating "the seriousness of the offense" and other factors warranted him being tried as an adult.

According to the ruling, Brooks, angered that his parents had grounded him for being late to school reportedly told police he, "broke into the family's gun cabinet, took a .22 revolver, waited in his bedroom for an hour and a half until his parents fell asleep, then entered their bedroom and shot them both."

Brooks initially denied any involvement, but reportedly admitted he shot his parents, according to police. Both parents survived their wounds and Brooks is currently living with his grandparents, according to Hill.

"Of course we are glad to have the ruling from the Court of Appeals upholding the trial court ruling. We will be moving forward," stated Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee.

Hill said he was disappointed in the ruling, but he will continue to move forward in the case. He pointed out he still has the option of appealing the decision that he be tried as an adult after the trial ended.

The ruling also stated the defense presented three psychological expert witnesses at the declination hearing who all testified Brooks should be tried as a juvenile, not as an adult.

Wasson cited evidence that Brooks allegedly first considered killing his parents when he was 8, instigated at least one violent encounter when he was in school and was involved in a violent encounter when in juvenile detention. Those examples were used to show the appeals court that Brooks posed a serious enough threat to the public to be tried as an adult.