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Maine teen charged in murder of a paddleboarder can stand trial, judge rules
Judge Eric Walker said Deven Young understands the proceedings, while prosecutors pursue a bind-over hearing that could move the case to adult court.
- Maine District Court Judge Eric Walker ruled on Wednesday that 18-year-old Deven Young is competent to stand trial for the killing of Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart at Crawford Pond in Union, Maine.
- Prosecutors charged Young, who was 17 at the time of the July 2025 incident, with murder after Stewart's body was discovered two weeks following her disappearance while paddleboarding on the pond.
- Judge Walker wrote that Young "has a rational, as well as a factual, understanding of the proceedings and a sufficient present ability" to consult with legal counsel, rejecting defense arguments of unfitness.
- Prosecutors are pursuing a "bind over" hearing to try Young as an adult, exposing him to a minimum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
- While no trial date is set, the court scheduled a conference for May 7 to address remaining juvenile issues for the case, which remains under juvenile privacy laws.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
Lewiston Sun Journal+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Teen accused of killing paddleboarder found competent to stand trial
A judge has not yet ruled whether Deven Young, who was 17 when police say he killed Sunshine Stewart, should be considered a juvenile or adult by the court.
·Lewiston, United States
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Center
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
59% Center
L 35%
C 59%
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