Stabbing suspect admits guilt in earlier case

Justice L. Brown, the youth who is charged with stabbing three college students in their Havre apartment building, has admitted an unrelated charge in Youth District Court, the equivalent of pleading guilty in an adult court.

Juveniles don't plead guilty, but Brown admitted to sexual intercourse without consent.

His attorney, Kaydee Snipes Ruiz, and his mother, Jonann Roastingstick, stood beside him during the hearing before Judge Daniel Boucher.

Boucher accepted the admission after Brown assured him he was not under the influence of drugs at the time.

Ruiz said she and prosecutor Kevin Buerkle, as assistant Hill County attorney, have submitted a psychological examination of the defendant that will remain under seal.

Boucher said he will impose a final determination in the case at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 4. The disposition is similar to a sentence in cases involving adults.

Arrangements will be made for the victim to testify at the hearing by video, it was agreed.

Brown is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 16 on charges that he entered the Highland Park apartment where the three college students - Sam Mix, Taylor Woolman and Alicia Schneid - lived and stabbed them repeatedly. They are all recovering.

In that case, Boucher has ruled, Brown will be tried as an adult, even though he was only 17 at the time of the stabbings.