Amended Charges Filed Against Raul Valle Following Not Guilty Verdict: Reports

SHELTON, CT — Prosecutors have filed amended charges against Raul Valle less than a week after a jury found him not guilty of murder and intentional manslaughter charges in the death of James McGrath, according to media reports.

While the 20-year-old Valle was found not guilty of both charges, as well as charges of intentional first and second-degree assault, a jury foreperson said they were deadlocked on charges of reckless manslaughter, reckless first-degree assault and second-degree reckless assault, according to the Connecticut Post.

As a result, a mistrial was declared by a judge on the charges the jury could not reach a decision on, according to NBC Connecticut.

NBC Connecticut reports state prosecutors refiled the following charges against Valle after the verdict was reached Wednesday: manslaughter in the first degree - reckless, two counts of assault in the first degree - reckless and assault in the second degree - reckless.

Prior to the verdict being read Wednesday, prosecutors told the judge the state intended to file the lesser charges, on which the jury could not reach a verdict, against Valle, the Connecticut Post reports. A judicial official also noted there are no bond conditions associated with the charges.

A request for comment from Valle's attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Valle, who was 16 at the time of his arrest and a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, was accused of fatally stabbing McGrath, a 17-year-old Shelton resident who attended Fairfield College Preparatory School, outside a home in Shelton in May 2022.

According to an arrest warrant application, McGrath was stabbed outside a house party with over 50 teens in attendance on Laurel Glen Drive late on May 14, 2022.

Valle was arrested days after the incident and later released after posting a $2 million bond.

He had been charged with murder, as well as two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault, leading up to the trial, according to the state's judicial database.

In November 2023, Valle rejected a plea deal that would have called for him to serve 40 years in prison and did not make a counter-offer. At that time, his lawyer told the media his client was innocent and wanted a trial.

See also:

• Suspect In James McGrath Murder Case Found Not Guilty Of Murder, Manslaughter: Reports
• Parents Of James McGrath Say They Will 'Never' Forgive Ahead Of Murder Trial: Report
• Family Of James McGrath Files Lawsuit Against Milford Teen, Parents
• Family Of James McGrath Seeks $15M From Shelton Couple In Lawsuit
• Shelton Parents Accused Of Hosting Underage Party Put On Probation: Report
• Families Sue Shelton Parents Accused Of Hosting Underage Party: Report
• Parents Accused Of Hosting Underage Party At Shelton Home: Police
• Shelton Family Establishes Foundation To Honor Jimmy McGrath
• Case Of Teen Charged In Fatal Stabbing Continued To November: Report
• Teen Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Jimmy McGrath, 17, Appears In Court
• Parents Of Jimmy McGrath Urge Public To 'Let Justice System Take Over'
• Warrant Details Police Investigation Of Jimmy McGrath's Stabbing Death
• 'This Is A Day To Celebrate Jimmy's Life,' Slain Teen's Dad Says
• St. Joseph Student Accused Of Fatally Stabbing James McGrath, 17

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Valle and other defendants by McGrath's father, Kevin, acting as administrator of his son's estate, in May 2024.

After McGrath's death, his parents and sister, Rosie, established The Jimmy McGrath Foundation in his honor as a way of promoting mental and physical wellness for local youths while "instilling in them a profound appreciation for the value of a human life," according to the organization's website.

The third annual Jimmy McGrath Foundation Golf Tournament was held in June at Smith Richardson Golf Club in Fairfield, according to the website.