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Guilty verdict reached for ‘22 robbery, not attempted murder
Case spent almost two years in court before recent plea deals
WASHINGTON — Two teens accused of shooting a man in a parked car in Washington in January of 2022 pleaded guilty to robbery last week, while charges of attempted murder in their cases were dismissed.
Mya Wright, now 21, and Jaden Miller, now 19, initially entered “not guilty” pleas during arraignment, but reversed that in voluntary plea agreements last week, according to the Washington County Attorney’s Office. Conditions of those plea bargains included the state dropping charges of attempted murder.
Wright was sentenced for 10 years in prison with a 5-year minimum, for Aiding and Abetting a Robbery. Miller, who was a minor at the time of the incident, got a 25-year suspended sentence placing him at a residential facility, according to the County Attorney’s Office.
Repp had sought a harsher sentence for Miller, of 25 years with a 15-year minimum.
“This case shows the clear sentencing distinctions in the law for minors and adults, specifically in regards to serious crimes,” he said in a news release. “While the law allows the court to consider ameliorative sentencing options for those who commit forcible felonies prior to turning eighteen, the Washington County Attorney’s Office will always continue to argue for prison sentences and mandatory minimums when the facts call for it.”
Both cases spent almost two years in the court system following the arrest of Wright and Miller in late January last year. Wright’s docket saw 10 orders for continuance, while Miller’s had a dozen. Less than half of those were preceded by a publicly accessible motion from any attorneys involved requesting the change of schedule.
The case predates Repp’s time in office, as well. He said the delays were fairly routine, to his knowledge.
“Most of the continuances were to complete discovery,” Repp said via email. “Mr. Miller was appointed with a new attorney on a couple occasions, so the discovery process started over again each time.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
