The juvenile who allegedly delivered the first punch to Ray Widstrand in 2013 that preceded a brutal group attack will stand trial as an adult, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday.
Charles K. Redding, who was 15 at the time and is now 17, had challenged his adult certification, but the appellate court upheld it due to the seriousness of the crime and Redding's lengthy juvenile record, the two most heavily weighted of six factors considered in certification.
Widstrand, 28, was living in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of St. Paul's East Side when he was attacked the night of Aug. 4, 2013, while walking through a crowd of teenagers who had spilled out of a house party on Preble Street near Minnehaha Avenue. Widstrand was critically injured and underwent many surgeries. He recovered beyond expectations, but has lasting physical and mental damage.
Five of the suspected attackers — authorities say there were more who remain unidentified — were charged. One teen was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison, another was acquitted, a juvenile pleaded guilty and one case was dismissed. Redding is the last suspect who remains charged. His case was stalled pending the Appeals Court decision.
Chao Xiong
