News on hearing for teen charged with rape, murder of 12-year-old

The teen pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting Kailey in juvenile court, while pleading guilty to murder and sexual abuse in adult court. Under the plea agreement, the original charge of aggravated murder was reduced to just murder.

According to the judge, the teen will serve time in juvenile detention for the sexual assault, which could last until he is 21 years old.

At that time, the teen will return to adult court, and will be sentenced for the murder and sexual abuse charges. He faces 15 years to life for the murder charge, and one to 15 years for sexual abuse, KSTU reports.

via KSTU:

SALT LAKE CITY -- (KSTU) -- A hearing in federal court Tuesday was postponed as a defense team works to determine if a 16-year-old boy, charged with the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, is competent to stand trial.

The defense says there are some very complicated issues related to the teen's medical history and social history that need to be evaluated before he can stand trial, and it's taking a long time to investigate it, which is why they need more time.

"A lot of it has to do with where the individual is, what their mental state is currently, whether there are any medical issues, whether there are mental health issues," said Michael Sikora, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association.