Juvenile Trail Denied for 16-Year-Old Accused of Lake County Murder

(Waukegan, IL)  A Lake County Judge has denied a motion to move a homicide case into juvenile court. Estiven Sarminento is facing first-degree murder charges in the August shooting death of 16-year-old Omar Diaz in Highland Park. Lawyers for Sarminento, who is 16 himself, argued that the case doesn’t reach the criteria for their client to be charged as an adult…the judge denied that motion. The suspect remains held in juvenile detention, but will still be tried as an adult. Another court date is set for October 12th.

Tim Vander Tuuk, WLIP News (9-19-23)