BURLINGTON, Colo.—A 13-year-old Colorado boy accused of killing his parents and attacking two younger siblings is expected to accept a plea on Wednesday that has angered some family members.
The boy was appearing before a judge in Burlington on the proposed deal.
He is accused of shooting and killing his parents, Marilyn and Charles Long, wounding a younger brother and assaulting a younger sister with a knife in March.
Under the deal announced last month, he would plead guilty to murder charges as a juvenile to avoid being tried as an adult. He would face seven years in juvenile prison but the sentence could be extended by two years if the judge approves.
If tried and convicted as an adult, the boy could have faced decades in prison.
In August, District Attorney Bob Watson said he wasn’t completely happy with the agreement.
“This was not an easy decision, nor one that I’m entirely happy with,” he said. “But unfortunately, the current status of Colorado law forces us to choose between either an unacceptably light juvenile sentence or an unnecessarily harsh lifetime sentence.”
The killings shocked the farm community of 3,700 on the plains about 140 miles east of Denver.
Marilyn Long, 50, homeschooled her kids and ran the children’s ministry at the Evangelical Free Church. Charles Long, 51, served as a church elder and was a snack delivery driver. The boy, who hasn’t been identified because he is a juvenile, was a greeter at the church and helped other children memorize Bible verses.
Court documents allege the boy stabbed and shot his 9-year-old brother and hurt his 5-year-old sister with a knife. Both recovered from their wounds.
Watson said the boy used a .357 Magnum revolver in the shootings.
Watson and public defender Tom Ward said they considered whether the boy had any mental health problems, the wishes of the Long family and community safety in reaching the plea deal. Prosecutors and Ward also shared the findings of mental health evaluations on the boy conducted by each side.
Watson acknowledged that many relatives of the Longs wanted the boy to be tried as an adult.
Charles Long’s sister, Deborah Long, said last month she was appalled by the decision.
“He killed my brother. He should spend the rest of his life in prison,” she said. “I don’t think he should ever get out, and I don’t think the rest of our family or the rest of society is going to be safe when he does get out.”
