A 15 year old boy has become the youngest inmate in the Indiana Department of Corrections, after being sentenced for murder in adult court.
A Marion county judge sentenced Nevin Brooks to 55 years in prison for a murder that took place just a month after his 14th birthday. That means he'll be nearly 70 years old at the completion of his sentence and both sides are wondering what will happen in the meantime.
"I'm happy with the sentence," said Danielle Hardwick, the wife of murder victim David Hardwick.
Though Danielle Hardwick is happy Nevin Brooks is behind bars, she says she's nowhere near overcoming the loss of her husband, who left three children and two step children behind.
"He was a great father. A hard worker," Danielle Hardwick said. "He'd do anything for anybody."
Defense attorneys said Nevin Brooks wasn't so lucky. He was born to a 13 year old mother and a 16 year old father who is serving time in prison for murder himself. Brooks had a long juvenile record before he was convicted of robbing and murdering Hardwick outside the Lexington Apartments in March of 2008. Brooks' attorney said his mother failed to cooperate with family counseling long before the murder. His grandmother was the only family member to speak on his behalf at the sentencing.
"Really, society is failing our children and if we don't put programs in place then it's going to happen to more of our children," said Bridgette Hayes, Brooks' grandmother.
"Many people grow up the wrong way and don't do the things that he has done," Danielle Hardwick said. "So I don't stand by that."
Brooks' attorney asked the judge to spare him from finishing his growth in adult prison, arguing for a secure juvenile treatment center instead. Though that was denied, even prosecutors agree the question of rehabilitation remains.
"You know, what do we do with Nevin Brooks?" said Mario Massillamany with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. "He committed this crime at 14. He's going to be in DOC for 55 years. He's going to come out. Will he come out a better man or will he come out worse? That is the question."
It's also a question Danielle Hardwick isn't ready to answer.
"I haven't registered it yet," she said. "I haven't had enough time to think about it."
Defense attorney David Shircliff called the Brooks sentence disappointing. He said his client should have never been convicted, let alone tried as an adult. Shircliff says he will definitely be appealing the case to a higher court.
A Marion county judge sentenced Nevin Brooks to 55 years in prison for a murder that took place just a month after his 14th birthday. That means he'll be nearly 70 years old at the completion of his sentence and both sides are wondering what will happen in the meantime.
"I'm happy with the sentence," said Danielle Hardwick, the wife of murder victim David Hardwick.
Though Danielle Hardwick is happy Nevin Brooks is behind bars, she says she's nowhere near overcoming the loss of her husband, who left three children and two step children behind.
"He was a great father. A hard worker," Danielle Hardwick said. "He'd do anything for anybody."
Defense attorneys said Nevin Brooks wasn't so lucky. He was born to a 13 year old mother and a 16 year old father who is serving time in prison for murder himself. Brooks had a long juvenile record before he was convicted of robbing and murdering Hardwick outside the Lexington Apartments in March of 2008. Brooks' attorney said his mother failed to cooperate with family counseling long before the murder. His grandmother was the only family member to speak on his behalf at the sentencing.
"Really, society is failing our children and if we don't put programs in place then it's going to happen to more of our children," said Bridgette Hayes, Brooks' grandmother.
"Many people grow up the wrong way and don't do the things that he has done," Danielle Hardwick said. "So I don't stand by that."
Brooks' attorney asked the judge to spare him from finishing his growth in adult prison, arguing for a secure juvenile treatment center instead. Though that was denied, even prosecutors agree the question of rehabilitation remains.
"You know, what do we do with Nevin Brooks?" said Mario Massillamany with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. "He committed this crime at 14. He's going to be in DOC for 55 years. He's going to come out. Will he come out a better man or will he come out worse? That is the question."
It's also a question Danielle Hardwick isn't ready to answer.
"I haven't registered it yet," she said. "I haven't had enough time to think about it."
Defense attorney David Shircliff called the Brooks sentence disappointing. He said his client should have never been convicted, let alone tried as an adult. Shircliff says he will definitely be appealing the case to a higher court.
