16-year-old seeks to have murder case moved back to juvenile court

CEDAR RAPIDS - A juvenile court officer testified at a hearing Friday that he wouldn't recommend transferring a first-degree murder case against a 16-year-old from adult court to juvenile court.

Ellis Paige, a 6th Judicial District juvenile court officer, said Kenyauta Vesey-Keith, 16 - charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, willful injury causing serious injury and intimidation with a weapon - wouldn't have enough rehabilitation time if convicted in juvenile court before he would be discharged at age 18.

Todd Weimer, Vesey-Keith's lawyer, asked the court to consider sending the case back to juvenile court because of the defendant's age, saying he only turned 16 two weeks before he was charged with fatally shooting Brandon Johnson. 21. during a fight March 19.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever said he would take the motion under advisement and make a written ruling later.

Johnson was killed during a fight in the 1100 block of Maplewood Drive NE, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said the fight was a continuation of a dispute that began with a brawl in the Lindale Mall food court in February 2014. That fight turned into an ongoing rivalry between two families and their friends. During the fight in March, a dozen or more people, including adults and juveniles, fought in the middle of Maplewood Drive.

Police said during that fight, Vesey-Keith got a gun from a vehicle, fired multiple rounds, with bullets hitting two people. Johnson was fatally shot and Deaveon Gaudlin, 16, was seriously injured.

Paige said he didn't have any issues with Vesey-Keith while under his supervision. Paige was assigned to Vesey-Keith in 2014 for a carrying weapons charge, which is pending in juvenile court. After being moved out of the detention center, Vesey-Keith was moved into an alternative program and was allowed to live at home. He also had no problems at school.

Paige's only concern was when Vesey-Keith's mother, Saresa Keith, called him on Dec. 9, 2015, and said a group at school was trying to fight with him and then later fired shots at him. Paige said Vesey-Keith told him he was trying to stay away from the group.

Weimer asked Paige if Vesey-Keith told him Brandon Johnson was part of that group. Paige said yes.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said he 'strongly” opposed moving the case back to juvenile court, arguing the 16-year-old is charged with three forcible felonies and is accused of using a gun, which caused the death of one person and seriously injured another.

'These are adult crimes, and he needs to face adult consequences,” Vander Sanden said.

Vesey-Keith's mother, Saresa Keith, 39, was arrested last month and accused of bringing her son to the March 19 fight. Police said Saresa Keith was involved in the fight and used a stun gun during the brawl. She is charged with child endangerment, carrying weapons and assault while using a weapon.