Opinion ID: 1312419
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Transfer to Adult Jurisdiction

Text: During a psychological evaluation with clinical psychologist Dr. F. Scott Bailey in May 1996, Steven informed Dr. Bailey that he had confessed to the murder in order to protect Ms. Milburn and that Ms. Whetzel had encouraged him to take the blame. [8] He further maintained that his original statement was true: he had been awakened by the sound of gun shots and Ms. Milburn had come to him, told him that she had shot Judy, and that she needed help disposing of the gun. Steven further disclosed that although he had personally made the decision to take the blame, Ms. Whetzel had coached him regarding exactly what to tell the police. [9] Steven also stated that he had only admitted to shooting Ms. Jenkins because of pressure from Ms. Whetzel. Dr. Bailey tested Steven and concluded that Steven has an average intelligence and an IQ of 95. Dr. Charles Cantone, Steven's retained psychologist, measured Steven's IQ as 76, evidencing a borderline range of intelligence. Dr. Cantone explained that he believed that the 76 IQ was a depressed estimate and that Steven actually functioned in the low normal range. On June 7, 1996, the lower court held a hearing on Steven's motion to suppress the confession, and on June 11, 1996, the transfer hearing was held. The lower court determined that Steven's confession was admissible and that the State had shown probable cause to believe that Steven had committed the act of first degree murder. The lower court further reasoned [t]hat whether the juvenile herein by his confession was his attempt to aid the adult co-defendant, Barbara Milburn, would go to the weight to be given to his statements and confession and can not be laid at the State's feet. The lower court further found that any delay was not for an impermissible purpose; That December 19, 1995 was a snowy day, closing the Magistrate Court; that the request for a polygraph of the juvenile herein following his first statement of December 19, 1995 was for the purpose of resolving conflicts in said statement of the juvenile.... Steven was thereafter transferred to adult jurisdiction in accordance with West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d)(1) (1996).