The 11 year old babysitter accused of killing a toddler in Sandy Springs will face charges in juvenile court, not adult court. As expected, the Fulton County D.A.’s office made the only decision possible under Georgia Law. The 11 year old is too young to be charged as an adult, despite public outrage over the death of 2 year old Zeyda White. The toddler somehow received a fatal blow to the head while in the care of the pre-teen babysitter last Saturday night.
The youngster appeared in juvenile court Wednesday for an initial hearing and remains in Metro’s Youth Detention Center. In general, juvenile court cases move through the system much faster than cases in adult court. As the case unfolds, it will be heard by a juvenile court judge, not a jury. The child will be represented by a defense attorney. If found guilty, the child may be sent to a secure detention center for up to five years, with possible 12-month extensions at the discretion of the judge and the Department of Juvenile Justice, until the age of 21.
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