Juvenile charges for girl, 12, in armed robbery try

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP (AP) -- Prosecutors have decided to bring juvenile charges against a 12-year-old girl accused of using a loaded, stolen handgun to try to rob a suburban Detroit store, an official said Sunday. Earlier, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the premeditation of the crime and the fact that the weapon had a bullet in the chamber supported an adult prosecution. But on Sunday, County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton told The Oakland Press of Pontiac that the case will be handled as a juvenile matter. An adult charge of armed robbery can bring up to life behind bars. Authorities say the robbery attempt happened last Friday night at Country Lake Market in Highland Township, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. The girl was wearing a bandanna during the Friday night stickup attempt, the Oakland County Sheriff's Department said. Store workers were able to overpower her until deputies arrived, the department said. "Thankfully, this had a positive outcome, at least in terms of injury or death," Bouchard told The Detroit News. Bouchard said the girl broke into a house to steal the gun and resisted store employees trying to subdue her. "Plus, it was a loaded gun, with one round chambered as well, so it's very lucky that didn't discharge and hurt or kill someone," the sheriff told WWJ-AM. Despite the bandanna, one employee said she recognized the girl. The girl is being held at the Oakland County Children's Village. The robbery echoes another Oakland County prosecution of a juvenile on a serious weapons charge: the murder case against then-11-year-old Nathaniel Abraham of Pontiac. Abraham was convicted of murder for using a stolen rifle to kill 18-year-old Ronnie Greene in 1997 and was held until he turned 21. Abraham, now 25, is back behind bars serving time for dealing drugs. Published: Tue, Apr 19, 2011