Opinion ID: 1722433
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of 1994 Amendment

Text: The amendment of KRS 635.020 was part of a comprehensive enactment dealing with firearms control. The amendment added a new paragraph numbered (4) which contained language dealing with firearms offenses. Thus, the new paragraph stated in part that, Any other provision of KRS Chapters 610 to 645 to the contrary notwithstanding, any child age fourteen (14) or older who commits a firearms felony offense  shall be tried in the Circuit Court as an adult offender. (Emphasis added). The effect of the amendment was to facilitate transfer of juveniles accused of committing a felony with a firearm to the circuit court by bypassing the proof required under KRS 640.010(2). This Court upheld the constitutionality of KRS 635.020(4) and its expedited transfer mandate in Commonwealth v. Halsell, Ky., 934 S.W.2d 552 (1996). Although the 1994 version of KRS 635.020(4) used the words adult offender to describe how a child transferred pursuant to its provisions was to be treated in circuit court, we believe that the General Assembly did not intend to create an entirely new class of adult offenders. If it had meant to do so, it would have done so explicitly by giving a definition for the term analogous to the definition of youthful offender set out in KRS 600.020. Instead, KRS 635.020(4) was intended to do nothing more than to expedite the transfer of juvenile cases involving firearms felonies. To conclude otherwise would result in unintended and unjust results. For example, a fourteen-year-old transferred on an aggravated murder by firearms charge prior to 1997, unless considered a youthful offender, can be sentenced to death and executed because KRS 640.040(1), which would prohibit execution, applies only to youthful offenders. There is no reason to believe the legislature intended to permit the execution of fourteen-year-olds who use guns when its statutes otherwise prohibit the execution of fifteen-year-olds who use knives or blunt objects to kill others.