Accused Perry Hall Student Shooter To Request Juvenile Trial

UPDATE (Jan. 3)—Postponed Hearing Could Delay Accused Perry Hall Student Shooter's Trial - http://patch.com/A-0MZF. 

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The student accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School's cafeteria is requesting to be tried as a juvenile in Baltimore County Circuit Court. 

Judge Robert Cahill, Jr. is expected to make a final decision about whether 15-year-old Robert W. Gladden, Jr. should be tried as an adult during a juvenile waiver hearing on Jan. 3, Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney John Cox confirmed.

A previous juvenile waiver hearing was scheduled for Nov. 30, but canceled. Gladden's criminal trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 30.

"We intend to argue that he remain in adult court," Cox said, adding that the judge will factor age and available treatment programs in his decision. If tried as a juvenile, Gladden could face significantly less jailtime and media scrutiny.

Gladden was charged as an adult with nine counts of first-degree attempted murder, among other charges, in the Aug. 27 shooting.

Investigators said he brought a disassembled double-barrel shotgun and a bottle of vodka in his backpack on the first day of school. During the first scheduled lunch, he allegedly randomly opened fire in the cafeteria, striking and seriously injuring 17-year-old special needs student Daniel Borowy. Staff members stopped the attack by tackling Gladden and holding him until he was arrested, police said.

The incident caused a national outcry and several charitable and memorial events have followed.

Months after the shooting, Gladden remains at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Cox said. He appeared in a bail review hearing in September, but was denied bail pending a mental evaluation. A new hearing was not scheduled.

Gladden was formerly represented by both Columbia attorney Clarke Ahlers and Lutherville attorney George Psoras. Ahlers's office confirmed, however, that he is no longer involved in the case.

Psoras's office was not immediately available for comment on Gladden's scheduled juvenile waiver hearing.

Days after the shooting, Psoras told the Associated Press that Gladden was a victim of bullying and never intended to harm other students when he brought a gun to school.

Police previously denied these claims, announcing that bullying was not believed to be a factor and that Gladden acted deliberately.