7 years ago by Scott Hardy
Austin Anderson, 16, certified to be tried as an adult in case
A fourth person has now been charged in the shooting of a Hannibal man during an attempted robbery.
Marion County Prosecuting Attorney David Clayton announced Friday that 16 year old Austin Anderson has been charged with one count of attempted robbery, after he was certified Thursday to be tried as an adult in the shooting last November of Ronald Gillum, Junior. Court documents say that Anderson, who was 15 at the time, also shot Gillum, as well as helped plan the attempted robbery and obtained one of the firearms allegedly used. A second defendant, John Newman, is also alleged to have shot Gillum, after he answered a knock on his door. In a statement, Clayton says "Juveniles need to understand that just because they may be younger, that fact doesn't mean they will only get a slap on the wrist, if involved in serious crimes. Actions such as this require adult-grade punishment".
Anderson's in the Marion County Jail, and will be arraigned next Friday in Marion County Associate Circuit Court. Newman is due in court for a trial setting April 3rd, while a third defendant, Andrew Willemarck, has already been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role. A fourth defendant, Stephanie Pettit, received probation in exchange for her cooperation against the other three defendants.
