The teen who allegedly instigated a deadly high school brawl in Ellicott City will not be tried as an adult, the Howard State?s Attorney?s Office said.
Corey Lehnhoff, 18, of Ellicott City, was facing first- and second-degree assault, dangerous weapons and riot charges stemming from a melee in February 2006 involving about 20 young males at Mount Hebron High School.
The county?s grand jury recently chose not to indict Lehnhoff on the first-degree assault charges, and he is ineligible to be tried as an adult for the lesser charges, said Wayne Kirwan, spokesman for the state?s attorney?s office.
Because he was 17 at the time of the brawl, the case reverts back to juvenile court, Kirwan said.
“It?s unusual for the grand jury to alter the proposed charges offered by the state?s attorney?s office,” said Lehnhoff?s attorney Joseph Murtha. “But it?s a relief because itputs the case back in juvenile court … and that?s where it should be.”
The charges were dropped Dec. 17 in Howard Circuit Court, according to court records.
The maximum penalty Lehnhoff faces in juvenile court is three years of commitment to a juvenile detention center, because the court has jurisdiction until he is 21 years old, Murtha said. Lehnhoff was unavailable for comment.
Police arrested Lehnhoff on Nov. 6 after witnesses said the Mount Hebron student started the fight and used a baseball bat to hit Hammond High School student Jacob Sams, 18, of Columbia, in the head three times, court records state.
Lehnhoff also allegedly hit another teenager repeatedly in the stomach with the bat, charging documents state.
The brawl resulted in the death of Lehnhoff?s best friend, Robert Brazell Jr., 18, of Ellicott City, who was a former Mount Hebron High student. Former Oakland Mills High School wrestler Kevin Klink, 18, of Columbia, was indicted for Brazell?s slaying in April.
