Woman starts petition for 16-year-old charged as an adult in murder of 14-year-old
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A woman started a petition for a 16-year-old boy accused of murdering a 14-year-old in Duchesne County.
She claims it's unjust to charge Haegan Sagers as an adult, and listed Gov. Spencer Cox as a "decision maker" in her petition, along with the State Attorney General and Duchesne County Attorney.
"He's a little cowboy; you know, he's kind," said Cassandra Moore.
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Moore's son is best friends with Sagers.
"He's not a troubled child. He is not a problem child," said Moore.
Moore is against the local justice system choosing to charge Sagers as an adult after he allegedly shot and killed a 14-year-old boy during a family fight.
"I am deeply saddened, and that young man also was bright and kind," said Moore.
But Moore believes the court needs to reconsider the adult charges of first-degree murder and felony discharge of a firearm.
"He has no prior criminal history. He has mental deficits and mental health issues," said Moore. "I did not feel right, as a community member, as somebody who knows him, I did not stand behind that.”
Moore is pleading for Sagers' right to a fair trial.
"I think the community is split," said Moore. "I think he should have due process to defend himself, but I think that it has to be appropriate."
She said this is devastating for everyone involved.
“So, there's a lot of information that helps demonize him, but there's not enough information that sheds light on the fact that this charge does not justly fit this child," said Moore. "This is a young man that has a future that has been forever altered, regardless of this outcome."
Moore added that fighting for Sagers doesn't lessen the loss of the life of the 14-year-old boy.
"So this is not to diminish him whatsoever. It's solely about what is just and what is right," she said.
Sagers is currently at the Split Mountain Youth Detention Center in Vernal.
He will appear in court on October 10 to discuss bail.
Find Moore's petition for Sagers here.
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