Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt is among local law enforcement who disagree with a recent decision by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarity to charge two teens accused of murder in juvenile court.
The 15-and 17-year-old brothers are suspected of killing a 23-year-old woman during a home invasion last fall after authorities say they were put up to it by the woman’s jealous ex-boyfriend.
Sheriff Witt says that she worries about the precedent being set by Moriarity’s decision not to charge the teens as adults, like her predecessor intended.
“I worry that adults who have an idea of, ‘Okay, well, if I can get kids to do this crime,’ then that’s what we’re going to see an increase in,” Witt said.
Witt told News Talk 830 WCCO’s Adam Carter that Moriarity’s decision also worries law enforcement officers and has been a punch in the gut to the woman’s family.
“I don’t agree with that. I think, when it comes to the men and women, police officers and deputies that are doing this job, it worries them,” Witt said, adding that it leaves many in law enforcement wondering, “What are we doing this work for?”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has also been critical of Moriarity’s decision, calling it inappropriate.
The older brother, who is now 18, accepted the plea deal and will serve his time at a juvenile correctional facility in Red Wing. The younger brother, who is now 16, is scheduled to appear in juvenile court for his plea hearing tomorrow. He is the one suspected of pulling the trigger.
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