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Teens accused in shooting of 14-year-old Deserae Turner appear in adult court

No bail • They are charged with attempted murder, will remain in a juvenile detention facility as case proceeds.

Logan • The two 16-year-old boys accused in the shooting of 14-year-old Deserae Turner made their first appearances in adult court Thursday.

A juvenile judge ordered earlier this week that Colter Peterson and Jayzon Decker would stand trial for attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and other crimes in the adult system rather than the juvenile court. A 1st District Court judge ruled Thursday that the teens would remain in a juvenile detention facility without the opportunity to post bail.

First District Juvenile Court Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said earlier this week that while both boys could prove that it was in their best interest to keep their cases in the juvenile court — where they could face a maximum penalty of a stay in a secure juvenile care facility until they reach age 21— they did not prove it was in the best interest of public safety.

If convicted, both boys now face the same penalties as if they were adults. The attempted aggravated murder charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison.

The teens are accused of luring Turner to a Smithfield canal on Feb. 16 under the guise of selling her a pocket knife. The original plan was to slit the girl's throat with knives each boy brought, according to charging documents, but prosecutors allege Peterson ultimately fired a single bullet in the back of Turner's head. Decker is accused of helping plot the act and encouraged Peterson to shoot. Both boys allegedly took cash and electronics from Turner's backpack after she was shot.

Turner survived the shooting, but has been left with lifelong injuries. She was hospitalized for nine weeks, and is now recovering at her home in the town of Amalga.

After his arrest, Peterson told police he had become annoyed with Turner for texting and contacting him through the messaging app Snapchat, according to preliminary hearing testimony. Decker told his friend it would "be pretty easy to get rid of her," a Cache County sheriff's deputy testified. From there, the boys allegedly plotted Turner's death until that February day when they met her at the canal.

Turner's parents reported her missing after she did not return home from school. Two women who knew her family decided to walk a trail near the canal that evening and spotted the girl. They covered her with their coats, the women testified, and called 911. Initially, medics thought the girl needed treatment for hypothermia, according to testimony. Later, they found the gunshot wound.

Peterson is expected in court again on May 15, while Decker will be in court the following day.

The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes until they are certified to stand trial in adult court, as Peterson and Decker now have been.

jmiller@sltrib.com