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Teen Accused In Franklin Regional Stabbing Attack To Be Tried As An Adult

MURRYSVILLE (KDKA) -- A teenager accused in an April 2014 knife attack at Franklin Regional High School will be tried as an adult.

Common Pleas Judge Christopher A. Feliciani denied a petition from defense attorney Patrick Thomassey to move Alex Hribal's case to juvenile court.

Hribal is accused of injuring 20 classmates and a security guard with two kitchen knives, slashing and stabbing people in the first-floor hallway before the beginning of classes.

He was 16-years-old at the time.

Hribal's defense had been fighting a two year battle in court to have the now-18-year-old's trial moved to juvenile court. If found delinquent in a juvenile court, the teen would have likely been released on his 21st birthday.

In his decision, Judge Christopher A. Feliciani wrote:

"Simply put, the court finds the risk of the defendant's relapse potential for re-offending in a similar manner, now or upon his release at the age of 21 and many unknown and unpredictable psychological and psychiatric factors outweigh the likelihood that the defendants re-entry into our community would be safe and of no concern to the community."

Hribal's attorney highly disagrees with the decision.

"Anyone who goes to adult prison with a psychiatric problem, if you think they get help, then you are very much misinformed. All they do is medicate them and warehouse them. That's why they reoffend," said Patrick Thomassey. "That's why it was so important to get Mr. Hribal into the juvenile system where they intensely work with these young people."

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He is charged with 21 counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault and could face decades in prison if convicted.

 

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