JACKSBORO — A trial date in adult court was set Thursday for a teenager facing murder charges in the shooting of three school administrators, but his lawyer has asked to move the case back to juvenile court.
Kenneth Bartley, 15, earlier waived the charges to adult court.
But after an April 10 trial date was scheduled Thursday, District Attorney General Paul Phillips said Bartley's attorney Mike Hatmaker wants to transfer the case to juvenile court.
No hearing date has been set.
Bartley faces up to 51 years in prison if convicted in adult court. The most he could face if convicted in juvenile court is imprisonment until age 19.
Retired Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood has assumed the case. Judge Shayne Sexton recused himself after a petition circulated among school employees urging Phillips to reject a plea deal to lesser charges.
Bartley is accused of wounding two administrators and killing Assistant Principal Ken Bruce last November when they questioned him in their office at Campbell County Comprehensive High School about bringing a gun to school to trade for drugs.
