Judge rules Cedar Rapids 16-year-old charged with attempted murder will stay in adult court

CEDAR RAPIDS - A juvenile court officer testified Monday she wouldn't recommend that a 16-year-old charged with attempted murder in a laundromat shooting be transferred to juvenile court based on his 'escalating pattern” of behavior.

Julie Martin, 6th Judicial District juvenile court officer, said she didn't think Malachi Handley, 16, of Cedar Rapids, would receive the needed rehabilitation in juvenile court because he will turn 17 in four months and would only be able to stay at the Iowa State Training School for Boys until age 18.

The circumstances of this charge is the 'driving factor” of her opinion, Martin told 6th Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly during the hearing.

Chicchelly later on Monday made a written ruling, denying the defense's request to transfer the charges to juvenile court. As a result, Handley will be tried in adult court.

Handley, along with two other 15 year-olds, were charged May 31 with attempted murder, willful injury causing serious injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon, according to police reports. The two 15 year-olds were charged in juvenile court.

A security surveillance video and witnesses identified Handley as the suspect who fired several shots at a 14-year-old boy March 11 as the boy was leaving the Maytag Laundromat, 220 16th St. NE, a criminal complaint shows. The 14-year-old had gunshot wounds to his back and right leg. Several people were inside the laundromat at the time but no others were injured.

According to Chicchelly's ruling, witnesses also told police there was an ongoing conflict between the victim and Handley prior to the shooting.

Martin, as well as Chicchelly in her ruling, detailed Handley's previous juvenile delinquencies - convictions - starting in 2015 of assault with bodily injury and two more offenses in 2016. In one incident, he was fighting with others during a festival and became 'combative” with police officers as they attempted to restrain him. One officer was injured by him, Martin said.

In February, Handley was at a Jefferson High School basketball game, waving a gun around in the parking lot as students and others were leaving, Chicchelly said the ruling.

Martin said Handley also had another incident, about six days after the laundromat shooting. Handley was charged with theft and eluding after he stole a car and then crashed it after being pursued by police.

In talking with Handley, Martin said he needs 'serious intervention” to change his cognitive thinking and 'anti-social mindset.” He claims these incidents happen because he's being 'picked on,” which may be true, Martin added.

'He has a level of retaliation or need to fight back… he thinks it's normal behavior for his age,” Martin said.

Doug Davis, Handley's lawyer, asked Martin if Handley said he wanted to make changes.

Martin agreed, saying Handley talked about getting treatment and was interested in going into the military one day.

Chicchelly in her ruling said Handley wouldn't be a good candidate for rehabilitation offered in the juvenile system, citing Handley's lengthy juvenile court history and 'escalating assaultive behavior,” and lack of follow through with juvenile court interventions.

'He is at high risk to re-offend on the Iowa Delinquency Assessment even without the current pending forcible felonies factored in,” Chicchelly pointed out in the ruling.

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