SOUTH BEND â Court proceedings for a 14-year-old boy accused of molesting and killing a 6-year-old girl in New Carlisle will remain open to the public, a St. Joseph County Probate Court judge ruled Wednesday.
Magistrate Graham Polandoâs ruling comes after attorneys for the teen filed a motion to close public access, arguing the high-profile nature of the case could introduce âprejudiceâ into the case.
In his ruling, Polando wrote that Indiana law is clear that juvenile court proceedings are public if the alleged offense would be murder or a felony if committed by an adult.
âThe respondent cited no authority, and the courtâs own research has likewise found none, indicating that the court may disregard that statute,â the ruling said.