The adult-court venue is an automatic result of the judge’s decision to charge the girls with attempted first-degree intentional homicide instead of second-degree attempted intentional homicide—a charge that the state would have had to prosecute in the juvenile system, which would only hold the girls until they are 25 years old.
The girls’ lawyers had argued that the lesser charge was appropriate in light of the girls’ claims that they believed Slender Man would have killed their families if they hadn’t committed the crime. Hearings on whether their cases should be moved back to juvenile court have been scheduled for May and June.
If the more serious charge stands, the girls face up to 65 years in prison if they’re convicted.