Teen might be tried as adult in Lake County
Isaac Fleming, 17 of Ronan might be tried as an adult if a Lake County District Court judge agrees to move his criminal case to district court, according to Lake County Court records. Fleming is accused of four felony charges.
His court transfer hearing from the youth court system to the district court system that was previously set for Deborah Kim Christopher Dec., 28, 2015 was continued to Jan. 7 before it was transferred again to Jan. 14, and now Jan. 21.
Fleming’s defense attorney, Robert Long requested the second transfer because he was not able to interview a witness regarding his client’s case and then filed a Jan. 13 motion to substitute Christopher in the case against his client with another judge.
The Jan. 21 hearing will serve to decide if Fleming should face trial in adult District Court or remain in Lake County Youth Court.
Fleming was arrested on Christmas Day and charged with two counts of felony assault with a weapon; one count of felony aggravated burglary and one count of felony assault.
Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Ben Anciaux will represent the county in the case.
Fleming is accused of playing an integral role in the circumstances that ended in the shooting of Karen Finley of Pablo Dec. 14.
Prosecutors believe that the criminal trouble began Dec. 13 when Fleming went to the same home to visit his girlfriend.
During their visit, a fight broke out between the two teens. Fleming was asked to leave by Matthew Hawkins, a resident of the house. Once outside the house, prosecutors believe that Fleming, who was in possession of a gun, fired two shots at Hawkins. Fleming missed his target both times.
Hawkins later told authorities that he saw the muzzle of the gun and its flash, a Lake County Court affidavit said. When law enforcement officers arrived on scene, they found two spent shell casing in the area.
The next day authorities allege that Fleming returned to his girlfriend’s house in a vehicle with Ashley Rae Hewankorn as a passenger and Charlene Hewankorn as the driver.
“All three got out and approached the residence,” an affidavit documenting Charlene Hewankorn’s role in the alleged crime said. “Ashley and Charlene occupied Hawkins while Fleming entered through the front door.”
Hawkins broke away from the two women, however and entered the residence from the back door.
Hawkins and Fleming met in the hall and began to fight, Fleming’s affidavit said.
Hawkins tried to grab the gun but Fleming passed it to Ashley Hewankorn instead.
“Hawkins slung the defendant, who hit Hawkins in the head,” the affidavit said.
Hawkins grabbed a hammer after Fleming and Hewankorn fled the hallway and climbed in their vehicle.
Hawkins pursued the pair and broke the suspect’s car window, the affidavit said.
“Ashley Hewankorn jumped out of the vehicle with the gun and pointed it at Hawkins,” the affidavit said.
When Karen Finley, who is Fleming’s girlfriend’s mother, came out of her house and yelled at Ashley Hewankorn, the accused assailant turned, pointed the gun at Finley and fired, the records said.
The three suspects fled the scene in their car. Charlene Hewankorn was arrested Dec. 14. Ashley Hewankorn was arrested Dec. 18 and Fleming was arrested Dec. 25.
Finley’s current trial schedule includes a projected omnibus hearing on March 17; a status conference on April 14 and a jury trial on May 23.