Oklahoma Court Upholds Youthful Offender Ruling

A state appeals court says a lower court did not abuse its discretion in ruling a teenage girl should be tried as a youthful offender in the stabbing death of another teenage girl.

Friday, December 5th 2008, 1:37 pm

By: News On 6

Associated Press

TULSA, OK -- A state appeals court says a lower court did not abuse its discretion in ruling a teenage girl should be tried as a youthful offender in the stabbing death of another teenage girl.

The ruling by the state Court of Criminal Appeals means 15-year-old Montoya Harris will be eligible for a treatment program if she's convicted of first-degree murder.

State prosecutors wanted to try Harris as an adult in the stabbing of 13-year-old Sydney Dailey.

Investigators say Harris stabbed Dailey about 10 times with a folding knife after the two talked about Dailey "stealing" Harris' boyfriend.

Harris could remain in juvenile custody until her 20th birthday. If she doesn't respond to treatment she would be sent into the adult system and could face life in prison without parole.