Alleged sledgehammer attacker to be tried as a juvenile

Spanish Fork, Utah — A 17-years-old allegedly beat a man with a sledgehammer before punching and attacking several children at a daycare facility in Payson.

The incident happened in August of 2020.  Several victims were taken to the emergency room and suffered lifelong emotional and physical injuries.

“It bothers us to watch him hurt, have to see him struggle through day to day,” said Brad Van Tassell, the father of a four-year-old boy who was attacked. “He’s scared to go in another room without someone there.”

In mid-June, Utah County prosecutors argued the attacker, who is now 18-years-old, should be tried as an adult.

A judge disagreed.

“I feel betrayed. I feel betrayed by the judge. I feel betrayed by the legal system.” Van Tassell said.

According to Utah County Attorney David Leavitt, the alleged attacker can only be held until he’s 25-years-old if he is convicted.

Any conviction in the juvenile court system would not be included in his adult criminal record.

“We trust the system to do what’s best to protect society and the judge believes it was best in the juvenile court and that’s where we’ll prosecute it,” Leavitt said.

Van Tassell wants to see things change. The ruling has inspired him to speak with lawmakers about passing legislation that would require teenaged offenders in violent cases like this to be tried as adults.

“I wanted justice for Coy, but it’s not going to happen,” he said. “We aren’t going to get that for ours, but I’ll be damned if we don’t do something about the next one.”