A hearing to determine the state of charges against 15-year-old Robert W. Gladden, Jr. has been postponed a second time, and could cause a delay in his criminal court trial, Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney John Cox confirmed on Thursday.
Gladden is accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School's cafeteria on the first day of school and seriously injuring another student. He was charged as an adult with nine counts of first-degree attempted murder, among other charges, in the Aug. 27 incident.
A juvenile waiver hearing for Gladden was first scheduled for Nov. 11, then postponed and rescheduled for Jan. 3, then postponed again. A rescheduled date for the hearing has not yet been determined, Cox said.
During the juvenile waiver hearing, Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Robert Cahill, Jr. will make a final decision on whether Gladden will continue to be charged as an adult or be tried as a juvenile. If tried as a juvenile, Gladden could face significantly less jailtime and media scrutiny.
Delays in determining the state of charges against Gladden will likely lead to a delay in his criminal court trial, currently scheduled for Jan. 30, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Cox said.
Cox said he plans to continue to argue that Gladden be tried in adult court, but added that the judge will factor age and available treatment programs into his decision.
Investigators said Gladden brought a disassembled double-barrel shotgun and a bottle of vodka to school in his backpack on Aug. 27. During the first scheduled lunch, he allegedly randomly opened fire in the cafeteria, striking and seriously injuring 17-year-old special needs student Daniel Borowy. Staff members stopped the attack by tackling Gladden and holding him until he was arrested, police said.
The incident caused a national outcry and several charitable and memorial events followed.
Months after the shooting, Gladden remains at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Cox said. He appeared in a bail review hearing in September, but was denied bail pending a mental evaluation. A new bail review hearing was not scheduled.
Gladden was formerly represented by both Columbia attorney Clarke Ahlers and Lutherville attorney George Psoras. Ahlers's office confirmed, however, that he is no longer involved in the case.
Psoras's office was not immediately available for comment on Gladden's juvenile waiver hearing.
Days after the shooting, Psoras told the Associated Press that Gladden was a victim of bullying and never intended to harm other students when he brought a gun to school.
Police previously denied these claims, announcing that bullying was not believed to be a factor and that Gladden acted deliberately.
I'm so tired of people blaming these things on everything but where the fault should be. It is not the lack of god. It's not the music. It's not the video games. It's not movies or TV. It's that the person who did the horrible act is screwed up and didn't get the help they needed. Normal, sane people don't do stuff like that. If it was any of the reasons above then we would have SO, SO many more people running around killing for no reason. Why is that such a hard concept to grasp?
Not sure what his hair has to do with anything, but I would be very surpised if his hair is not cut very short while he is in custody. I have no problem with him being tried as an adult, but due process must be followed just as it would be if any of us were accused of a crime. We are fortunate to live in a country where indictment, trial, conviction and sentence are not simply pro forma acts on the way to locking someone away for life. Now please excuse me while I tug on my Nomex suit in preparation for being flamed.
Maryland Declaration of Rights. Art. 36. That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry; nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor either in this world or in the world to come. Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference to belief in, reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a Supreme Being in any governmental or public document, proceeding, activity, ceremony, school, institution, or place.
Of course in my classroom, most student probably pray that I was in a good mood when I made the test they are taking on quiz day :-)
I would also like to know if anyone feels their children's rights have been violated in their schools. Has anyone tried to post in the hallways a child's religious based project that was refused. I have no concern which religion. "Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference to belief in, reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a Supreme Being in any governmental or public document, proceeding, activity, ceremony, school, institution, or place." "School" is specifically noted!
Our school has had after-school clubs/organizations for students to join together to discuss their religions, etc. There has never been any problems with this. A teacher is present, but only as a monitor to ensure students are safe and in an adult's supervision.
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