Two 14-year-old girls arrested in the death of an Augusta woman cannot be tried as adults.

 

That's according to state law as the two appeared via a Zoom call in a Butler County courtroom Monday.

 

The law states that “no juvenile less than 14 years of age shall be prosecuted as an adult.” The two were both 13 when they are alleged to have caused the death of 93-year-old Joanne Johnson, who was found dead in her Augusta home last Labor Day weekend. An adult facing first-degree murder charges could be put in prison for life, but as juveniles, if the two girls are convicted, they would only serve time until they are 22 and a half years of age. They were officially charged with first-degree murder during their court appearance Monday. Since they will not be tried as adults, details of the case could be sealed and not released to the public.

 

A Butler County judge is expected to rule on the release of the probable cause affidavit later this week. The Butler County Attorney has confirmed that the girls are the only suspects who have been arrested in the case.