Judge: Bat Attack Suspect Not an Adult

FORT WORTH, Texas - A 16-year-old charged with a vicious attack on a Fort Worth pizza delivery man will not stand trial as an adult.

The teen is one of three people accused of luring Domino’s employee Fred Rein to a vacant house in October and then robbing and beating him with a baseball bat. The 66-year-old suffered multiple skull fractures.

Prosecutors wanted the teen certified to stand trial as an adult stating it was not a childish crime.

“This crime was vicious in nature. The victim is still in the hospital due to the injuries,” said Assistant District Attorney Amy Mills.

Instead a judged ruled he is not mature enough and will remain in the juvenile system.

“He’s not received the services that he could here on the juvenile side where we say we’ve done all we can to try to turn him into a productive member of society,” said defense attorney Chad Lee.

Rein’s family and former co-workers said they are disappointed by the ruling.

Jackie Rein said her husband is in a rehabilitation center and will likely never fully recover.

“My husband isn’t getting a second chance,” she said. “His attorney stands up and says, ‘Fred is getting better every day.’ But he's not ever going to be the same. He'll never drive again. He can't go back to work. He is a prisoner.”’

Prosecutors said the judge’s decision doesn’t lessen the length of the sentence if the suspect is found guilty.

The names and mugshots of the suspects in the case were not released because they are all juveniles.

SEE ALSO:

• 3 Juveniles Arrested for Pizza Attack
• Beaten Pizza Man Helped Customers, Friends Say
• Pizza Delivery Man Attacked