By Associated Press
Fort Payne AL – DeKalb County District Attorney Mike O'Dell says a 17-year-old charged with capital murder won't face the possibility of the death penalty. Richard Sharp Shelton of Boaz was arrested last week in the killing of 63-year-old Jerry Neal Burt of the New Harmony community. Shelton is being charged as an adult with capital murder, for which the death penalty may be imposed.
O'Dell says because of a recent Supreme Court decision, no juvenile may be sentenced to death regardless of the charges.
Also charged with capital murder in the case is 20-year-old Billy Ray Justice of Boaz. He could face the death penalty because he is an adult.