By AP/KWMU
Clayton, MO – A judge in St. Louis County on Wednesday reaffirmed that a 13-year-old can be tried as an adult in the rape of a 6-year old girl.
Sherman Burnett, Jr. is accused of taking the girl from her neighborhood, then beating and sexually assaulted her.
The Family Court judge certified Burnett Junior to stand trial as an adult, while also dismissing charges of kidnapping, assault and forcible sodomy under the juvenile code.
The judge gave county prosecutors 20 hours to charge Burnett as an adult.
Burnett's lawyer, Nellie Ribaudo, argued that the teen would be best served being tried as a juvenile.
Police found the victim barely alive early the morning after she disappeared on November 11th.