258:
Brown to be delinquent (the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty verdict). Judge Hodge would announce Brown's disposition (the equivalent of a juvenile sentence) at a later date. Under
Pennsylvania law, an adjudicated juvenile offender cannot be held in custody past his 21st birthday. Brown could be held in a juvenile rehabilitative treatment facility only until he turned 21 in August 2018.
254:) to overturn Hodge's ruling and open the hearing to the public. After those newspapers decided not to pursue their appeal further, Judge Hodge was directed by another panel of the Superior Court to move swiftly to hold an adjudication hearing. Judge Hodge ruled that Jordan would not be released pending that hearing.
307:
overturned his conviction in a 5–0 decision. The two
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices who did not participate had previously ruled in Jordan's favor on his earlier appeal while they had served as judges in the Pennsylvania Superior Court. The justices attacked the evidence as insufficient and said
237:
Then the issue became whether Brown's eventual adjudication hearing (juvenile court trial) should be opened to the public, and whether he should provisionally be released while a decision in that matter was pending. Judge Hodge held that Brown's juvenile hearing would not be open to the public or to
312:
wrote the Court's opinion and noted, "The
Commonwealth’s evidence was, therefore, insufficient as a matter of law to overcome Appellant’s presumption of innocence, and the juvenile court’s adjudication of his delinquency for these serious crimes must be reversed." The last words of the opinion then
257:
Following three days of testimony and legal argument, Judge Hodge issued his ruling on April 13, 2012, that Brown was responsible for first degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk and of homicide in the death of her unborn male child. Judge Hodge adjudicated the now-15-year-old Jordan
278:
Judge Hodge issued a juvenile court opinion on April 19, 2015, again finding that Jordan was the individual who killed Kenzie Houk and her unborn child on the morning of
February 20, 2009. His disposition order was dated May 18, 2012. And again a third appeal was taken to the Pennsylvania Superior
265:
On June 13, 2016, more than seven years after his arrest, Jordan Brown was released from juvenile custody, two months before his 19th birthday. Judge Hodge put Brown on probation in the custody of an uncle who lived in Ohio, just across the border from
Lawrence County. He was to remain on juvenile
197:
On weekends Jordan hunted alongside his father, Chris Brown, who purchased the youth-sized 20-gauge shotgun that state police believed was the murder weapon. The youth's father did not publicly discuss the case, until after the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court exonerated his son nine years later in July
274:
On May 8, 2013, Superior Court, in the second appeal that came before it in this case, ruled that "the juvenile court committed a palpable abuse of discretion in rendering a ruling that is plainly contrary to the evidence" and vacated the juvenile court's disposition of delinquency. The ruling in
158:
Kenzie Houk was eight months pregnant when she was shot in the back of the head while she was sleeping in bed in their western
Pennsylvania farmhouse. Both she and her unborn son died as a result of the attack. Houk's 4-year-old daughter alerted nearby tree cutters roughly 45 minutes after Jordan
261:
After his
February 21, 2009 arrest, Jordan was placed in the Lawrence County Jail, a facility for adults. But authorities transferred him to a juvenile center in March 2009 after his attorneys argued that the adult jail with its three cell blocks couldn't accommodate an 11-year-old boy.
294:
request for review was made to the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which granted an appeal to consider Brown's claims that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to sustain the adjudication of the juvenile court, and that its adjudication was against the weight of the evidence.
134:
overturned his conviction in a 5–0 decision. The justices attacked the evidence as insufficient and said that the juvenile trial evidence pointing to a shotgun in Brown's bedroom as the murder weapon supported an equally reasonable conclusion that it was not the murder weapon.
185:
opposed the effort to try Jordan as an adult, citing the mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole penalty as a violation of international law. A petition signed by nearly 4,000 people protested what it termed as denial of Brown's
233:
The decertification ruling transferred Brown's case from adult court to
Lawrence County's family court division regularly presided over by Judge Hodge, who handled the subsequent juvenile adjudication and dispositional hearings.
266:
court probation until he turned 21. His lawyers continued to file appeals in order to have his juvenile conviction (adjudication) overturned. Two years later that resulted in the July 18, 2018 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling.
287:”), the Superior Court affirmed the juvenile court, and rejected claims that the juvenile court had improperly reassessed the evidence and made new credibility determinations in ruling on Brown's post-dispositional motions.
675:
399:
557:
447:
771:
538:
308:
that the juvenile trial evidence pointing to a shotgun in Brown's bedroom as the murder weapon supported an equally reasonable conclusion that it was not the murder weapon.
130:
On May 8, 2013, the Superior Court vacated the finding of delinquency, citing "palpable abuse of discretion" and sent the case back to juvenile court. On July 18, 2018, the
407:
652:
700:
723:
520:
100:
involves Jordan Brown (born August 12, 1997), who was initially charged at 11 as an adult in the fatal shooting of his father's fiancée, Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, in
565:
363:
477:
807:
455:
812:
817:
802:
223:
191:
187:
127:, while Pennsylvania courts deliberated his status, Brown was tried as a juvenile and found guilty of being delinquent by a judge on April 13, 2012.
385:
207:
159:
Brown and Houk's 7-year-old daughter got on a school bus. The state Attorney General prosecutor asserted that Houk was killed by a youth-model
230:
himself from the case, and Judge John W. Hodge granted the decertification petition and ruled that Brown should be tried as a juvenile.
746:
336:
As of 2018, Brown was a college junior studying computer science. He has repeatedly stated in interviews that while he suffers from
218:
initially denied decertification and transfer to juvenile court because Jordan would not admit his involvement in the crime. After
597:
123:'s Office then took over prosecution of the case. After Brown had spent more than three years in a juvenile detention facility in
150:. Under Pennsylvania Law, those who are under 15 and being tried as an adult are sentenced to life with parole after 25 years.
502:
146:
until he reached the age of 21 because he was only 11 when the crime occurred. He was granted transfer of his case into the
215:
275:
particular objected to the assumption, made by the juvenile court, that no one else but Jordan could have shot Houk.
429:
147:
637:
623:
173:
near the path Brown walked with Houk's older daughter to get to their school bus. He was subsequently arrested.
219:
211:
120:
109:
142:
without parole if he had been tried and convicted for murder as an adult, but he faced custody in a secure
304:
160:
131:
244:
143:
105:
101:
747:"What happened after an 11-year-old boy was accused of murdering his pregnant soon-to-be stepmom"
583:
240:
318:
115:'s Office initially filed the charges in adult court because that is required in Pennsylvania
451:
430:"Authorities: Jordan Brown Killed Father's Pregnant Girlfriend; 11-Year-Old Charged As Adult"
238:
the news media. The Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected an appeal by three area newspapers (
182:
561:
8:
542:
403:
772:"What life is like today for man arrested at age 11 for pregnant future stepmom's death"
601:
379:
124:
579:
328:
against Harvey because Houk had claimed Harvey threatened to kill her and her family.
169:, a Christmas gift to Jordan from his father. Pennsylvania State Police found a spent
325:
112:
481:
433:
314:
250:
524:
104:, which occurred on the morning of February 20, 2009. Jordan was interviewed by
364:"Court overturns then-11-year-old boy's conviction in Lawrence County killing"
796:
521:"Lawyer Of Boy Accused Of Murder Fights To Have Him Tried In Juvenile System"
324:
Another possible suspect is Adam Harvey, an ex-boyfriend of Houk. Houk had a
170:
139:
638:"Court rejects Pa. teen's appeal in '09 slaying; suspect now living in Ohio"
309:
291:
72:
448:"13-year-old US boy's murder trial could violate international law"
163:
116:
78:
Delinquent of first-degree murder and criminal homicide (acquitted)
503:"Boy accused in pregnant woman's death to be tried as a juvenile"
279:
Court. In a split panel decision dated September 1, 2016, titled
227:
166:
108:
twice that day and arrested before sunrise the next morning. The
206:
Jordan Brown was initially charged as an adult. Presiding Judge
600:. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 23, 2012. Archived from
598:"Media denied access to boy's juvenile case in '09 killing"
337:
580:"Jordan Brown seeks release while awaiting court decision"
653:"Jordan Brown exonerated of all charges in 2009 homicide"
506:
539:"Court will hear Jordan Brown arguments at next session"
624:"Judge: Pa. boy killed dad's pregnant fiancée at 11"
701:"Supreme Court opinion cites insufficient evidence"
86:
Held in juvenile rehabilitation until the age of 21
558:"13-year-old murder suspect faces US court appeal"
362:Sess, The Associated Press, Dave (July 18, 2018).
794:
676:"PDF of 47 page decision, provided by WKBN News"
673:
400:"Judge declares Jordan Brown guilty of murder"
340:, he is committed to turning his life around.
523:. WPXI.com. January 25, 2011. Archived from
384:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
119:cases, regardless of a defendant's age. The
808:Overturned convictions in the United States
357:
355:
353:
813:People convicted of murder by Pennsylvania
16:US prosecution of a child for a 2009 death
818:People from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
803:February 2009 crimes in the United States
478:"Father's support of his son unwavering"
350:
321:, and Brown, now 21, cannot be retried.
313:ordered that "Appellant is discharged."
298:
222:ruled that Judge Motto violated Brown's
724:"Many victims in the Jordan Brown case"
795:
738:
54:Conviction overturned on July 18, 2018
721:
698:
650:
555:
475:
361:
201:
626:. Associated Press. April 13, 2012.
283:, 147 A.3d 1204 (Pa.Super. 2016) (“
269:
13:
454:. January 24, 2011. Archived from
14:
829:
744:
674:Appeal of J.B. (July 18, 2018).
556:Lidji, Eric (January 23, 2011).
406:. April 13, 2012. Archived from
764:
715:
692:
667:
644:
640:. WKBN News. September 2, 2016.
630:
616:
590:
572:
331:
722:Lowry, Nancy (July 24, 2018).
699:Lowry, Nancy (July 19, 2018).
651:Lowry, Nancy (July 19, 2018).
549:
531:
513:
495:
476:Lowry, Nancy (July 24, 2018).
469:
440:
422:
392:
181:The human-rights organization
176:
1:
343:
220:Pennsylvania's Superior Court
212:Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
121:Pennsylvania Attorney General
7:
161:Harrington & Richardson
153:
10:
834:
305:Pennsylvania Supreme Court
132:Pennsylvania Supreme Court
245:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
144:juvenile detention center
138:Brown could have faced a
106:Pennsylvania State Police
90:
82:
70:
66:
58:
50:
28:
21:
102:New Beaver, Pennsylvania
45:New Beaver, Pennsylvania
584:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
317:has attached under the
241:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
303:On July 18, 2018, the
568:on February 12, 2011.
564:(AFP). Archived from
452:Amnesty International
299:Conviction overturned
183:Amnesty International
148:juvenile court system
562:Agence France-Presse
226:rights, Judge Motto
62:Chris Brown (father)
586:. January 20, 2012.
545:. January 15, 2011.
543:Beaver County Times
527:on August 19, 2012.
436:. January 27, 2011.
404:Beaver County Times
509:. August 23, 2011.
310:Justice Debra Todd
216:Common Pleas Court
125:Erie, Pennsylvania
778:. 19 October 2018
726:. New Castle News
703:. New Castle News
655:. New Castle News
326:restraining order
202:Legal proceedings
113:District Attorney
98:Jordan Brown case
94:
93:
825:
787:
786:
784:
783:
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
742:
736:
735:
733:
731:
719:
713:
712:
710:
708:
696:
690:
689:
687:
685:
680:
671:
665:
664:
662:
660:
648:
642:
641:
634:
628:
627:
620:
614:
613:
611:
609:
594:
588:
587:
576:
570:
569:
553:
547:
546:
535:
529:
528:
517:
511:
510:
499:
493:
492:
490:
488:
473:
467:
466:
464:
463:
444:
438:
437:
426:
420:
419:
417:
415:
396:
390:
389:
383:
375:
373:
371:
359:
270:Possible retrial
83:Criminal penalty
75:
42:
38:
36:
19:
18:
833:
832:
828:
827:
826:
824:
823:
822:
793:
792:
791:
790:
781:
779:
770:
769:
765:
755:
753:
743:
739:
729:
727:
720:
716:
706:
704:
697:
693:
683:
681:
678:
672:
668:
658:
656:
649:
645:
636:
635:
631:
622:
621:
617:
607:
605:
604:on June 6, 2022
596:
595:
591:
578:
577:
573:
554:
550:
537:
536:
532:
519:
518:
514:
501:
500:
496:
486:
484:
482:New Castle News
474:
470:
461:
459:
446:
445:
441:
434:Huffington Post
428:
427:
423:
413:
411:
410:on May 26, 2012
398:
397:
393:
377:
376:
369:
367:
360:
351:
346:
334:
319:Fifth Amendment
315:Double jeopardy
301:
272:
251:New Castle News
224:Fifth Amendment
204:
192:sixth amendment
179:
156:
110:Lawrence County
71:
51:Criminal status
46:
43:
40:
39:August 12, 1997
34:
32:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
831:
821:
820:
815:
810:
805:
789:
788:
763:
737:
714:
691:
666:
643:
629:
615:
589:
571:
548:
530:
512:
494:
468:
439:
421:
391:
348:
347:
345:
342:
333:
330:
300:
297:
285:In re J.B. III
281:In re J.B. III
271:
268:
208:Dominick Motto
203:
200:
178:
175:
155:
152:
92:
91:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
76:
68:
67:
64:
63:
60:
56:
55:
52:
48:
47:
44:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
830:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
798:
777:
773:
767:
752:
748:
745:Chang, Juju.
741:
725:
718:
702:
695:
677:
670:
654:
647:
639:
633:
625:
619:
603:
599:
593:
585:
581:
575:
567:
563:
559:
552:
544:
540:
534:
526:
522:
516:
508:
504:
498:
483:
479:
472:
458:on 2013-01-13
457:
453:
449:
443:
435:
431:
425:
409:
405:
401:
395:
387:
381:
365:
358:
356:
354:
349:
341:
339:
329:
327:
322:
320:
316:
311:
306:
296:
293:
288:
286:
282:
276:
267:
263:
259:
255:
253:
252:
247:
246:
242:
235:
231:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
199:
195:
193:
189:
184:
174:
172:
171:shotgun shell
168:
165:
162:
151:
149:
145:
141:
140:life sentence
136:
133:
128:
126:
122:
118:
114:
111:
107:
103:
99:
89:
85:
81:
77:
74:
73:Conviction(s)
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
41:(age 27)
31:
27:
20:
780:. Retrieved
775:
766:
754:. Retrieved
750:
740:
728:. Retrieved
717:
705:. Retrieved
694:
682:. Retrieved
669:
657:. Retrieved
646:
632:
618:
606:. Retrieved
602:the original
592:
574:
566:the original
551:
533:
525:the original
515:
497:
485:. Retrieved
471:
460:. Retrieved
456:the original
442:
424:
412:. Retrieved
408:the original
394:
368:. Retrieved
335:
332:Current life
323:
302:
289:
284:
280:
277:
273:
264:
260:
256:
249:
239:
236:
232:
205:
196:
180:
157:
137:
129:
97:
95:
23:Jordan Brown
177:Controversy
797:Categories
782:2019-08-27
462:2016-12-04
366:. WKBN.com
344:References
292:certiorari
35:1997-08-12
608:April 14,
414:April 14,
380:cite news
751:ABC News
730:July 26,
707:July 26,
684:July 19,
659:July 26,
487:July 26,
370:July 19,
194:rights.
164:20-gauge
154:Incident
117:homicide
228:recused
210:of the
167:shotgun
776:WHAS11
756:7 June
248:, and
198:2018.
59:Parent
679:(PDF)
188:fifth
758:2020
732:2018
709:2018
686:2018
661:2018
610:2012
489:2018
416:2012
386:link
372:2018
338:PTSD
190:and
96:The
29:Born
507:CNN
799::
774:.
749:.
582:.
560:.
541:.
505:.
480:.
450:.
432:.
402:.
382:}}
378:{{
352:^
290:A
243:,
214:,
37:)
785:.
760:.
734:.
711:.
688:.
663:.
612:.
491:.
465:.
418:.
388:)
374:.
33:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.