State prosecutors weighing multiple options in charging St. Johns teen murder suspect

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The State Attorney’s Office overseeing the prosecution of 14-year-old Aiden Fucci are weighing multiple options for charges.

The teen is facing second-degree murder charges in the case of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey.

WOKV’s legal analyst Mark Rubin says that it is very likely that Fucci will be tried as an adult.

“Florida is the leading state in the country by more than double of the next state behind it for direct file adult prosecutions of juveniles. So as a practical matter, the state attorney does have a process to review, but almost in every case they direct file. So I think in this case, we’re going to see Aiden Fucci in adult court,” Rubin told Jacksonville’s Morning News.

Fucci’s background could play a role in the decision but Rubin says that in Florida it is unlikely.

“This kid, from what I understand, comes from a pretty good community and a family in that community that doesn’t have any history of of being violent. So in another state, I’d say there probably be a very high likelihood that the state attorney would give great consideration to whether they want to prosecute in adult court or juvenile court,” Rubin said. “The issue is rehabilitation. Can a 14 year old be rehabilitated? Well, we don’t know enough about the facts of this case yet to to answer that question, because we’ve gotten a little bit of information released as to how the murder occurred. We know that there was a stabbing, but we don’t know any of the circumstances behind that. And so the State Attorney will have basic information and we’ll use that and process that. And while there is a slight chance that he won’t be charged as an adult because those factors could weigh in, it’s highly unlikely.”

A petition on Change.org has gathered more than 300,000 signatures, urging the State Attorney’s Office to charge Fucci as an adult. Rubin says that public opinion does have an influence because the State Attorney is an elected official.

The State Attorney’s Office said it is still looking through evidence and interviews in making the decision whether to charge Fucci as an adult. The agency has until May 31 to make a decision, but said a decision should be made before then.

Cox Media Group