MADISON, AL -
Madison Police recently announced it's charging a teenager with two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of two people. The two people are a 20-year-old mother and her unborn child.
The department also said 16-year-old David James Mears will be be charged as an adult. The story is the talk of the Tennessee Valley with most people asking why should the young man be charged as an adult?
WHNT News 19 has been following the story from the very beginning. We talked talked with the district attorney's office to find answers.
The Madison County District Attorney's office says the teenager committed a felonious offense. They say the nature of the crime is just that severe.
Madison Police arrested David James Mears. He is just 16 years old. Police claim Mears drove a truck through a red light at the intersection of Wall Triana Highway and Gooch Lane crashing into a car. They said the crash killed 20-year-old Cynthia Sandefur and her unborn son.
Bill Starnes is an Assistant District Attorney with Madison County. He told WHNT News 19 why the young man's charges are so severe.
"When you commit certain felony offenses at the age of 16 up through 18, you'll be charged as an adult as opposed to being charged as a juvenile," said Starnes.
Assistant District Attorney Starnes said any charge involving death or serious physical injuries is one of those offenses.
The Madison County Assistant District Attorney said being charged as an adult assures the accused will stand trial in an adult court. It also applies punishment catered to an adult.
"He is in the eyes of the law an adult in relation to this crime," added Starnes.
Many in the Tennessee Valley have commented on the story posted on WHNT.com since its airing. Some have emailed WHNT News 19 asking why manslaughter charges are placed against the 16-year-old as it appears last month's accident was just an accident.
"All of the facts will come forward as we move through the process. But, certainly he's been charged with acting recklessly and causing her death," added Starnes.
Madison Police told us they still have some digging to do as well.
"At this time, we have no evidence of alcohol being involved and other than that we really can't say until we get forensics back in addition to some other things that we're working on," said Madison Police Sergeant Steve Wilkerson.
The second count of manslaughter was placed against the teenager under the Brody Bill.
"The Brody Bill applies in the cases of criminal homicide and assault. Criminal homicide can be anything from intentional, to manslaughter, to murder, reckless murder, to criminal negligent homicide," added Starnes.
The Brody Bill went into effect in the state of Alabama back in 2006. Mears is the second person in North Alabama to be charged under the state law.
Assistant District Attorney Bill Starnes told WHNT News 19 no court date has been set for Mears.
The department also said 16-year-old David James Mears will be be charged as an adult. The story is the talk of the Tennessee Valley with most people asking why should the young man be charged as an adult?
WHNT News 19 has been following the story from the very beginning. We talked talked with the district attorney's office to find answers.
The Madison County District Attorney's office says the teenager committed a felonious offense. They say the nature of the crime is just that severe.
Madison Police arrested David James Mears. He is just 16 years old. Police claim Mears drove a truck through a red light at the intersection of Wall Triana Highway and Gooch Lane crashing into a car. They said the crash killed 20-year-old Cynthia Sandefur and her unborn son.
Bill Starnes is an Assistant District Attorney with Madison County. He told WHNT News 19 why the young man's charges are so severe.
"When you commit certain felony offenses at the age of 16 up through 18, you'll be charged as an adult as opposed to being charged as a juvenile," said Starnes.
Assistant District Attorney Starnes said any charge involving death or serious physical injuries is one of those offenses.
The Madison County Assistant District Attorney said being charged as an adult assures the accused will stand trial in an adult court. It also applies punishment catered to an adult.
"He is in the eyes of the law an adult in relation to this crime," added Starnes.
Many in the Tennessee Valley have commented on the story posted on WHNT.com since its airing. Some have emailed WHNT News 19 asking why manslaughter charges are placed against the 16-year-old as it appears last month's accident was just an accident.
"All of the facts will come forward as we move through the process. But, certainly he's been charged with acting recklessly and causing her death," added Starnes.
Madison Police told us they still have some digging to do as well.
"At this time, we have no evidence of alcohol being involved and other than that we really can't say until we get forensics back in addition to some other things that we're working on," said Madison Police Sergeant Steve Wilkerson.
The second count of manslaughter was placed against the teenager under the Brody Bill.
"The Brody Bill applies in the cases of criminal homicide and assault. Criminal homicide can be anything from intentional, to manslaughter, to murder, reckless murder, to criminal negligent homicide," added Starnes.
The Brody Bill went into effect in the state of Alabama back in 2006. Mears is the second person in North Alabama to be charged under the state law.
Assistant District Attorney Bill Starnes told WHNT News 19 no court date has been set for Mears.
