A Mitchell County District Court judge has ruled that an Osage 14-year-old accused of murdering his mother earlier this year will be tried in district court instead of in juvenile court. Judge Gregg Rosenbladt issued the ruling today that Noah Crooks will have a better chance of being rehabilitated if his case is tried in district court.
Crooks is accused of murdering his 37-year-old mother Gretchen on March 24th. Rosenbladt says in his ruling that there is probable cause to believe that Crooks committed delinquent acts as charged, and the court finds and concludes that the state has established that there are not enough reasonable prospects for rehabilitating Crooks prior to his 18th birthday if the Juvenile Court retains jurisdiction over him.
Crooks still cannot be tried as an adult since he was 13 at the time of the murder and is still considered to be a youthful offender, but the court now has broader control of what happens when Crooks turns 18. Crooks is also accused of serious assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City