Judge Voids Teen’s Murder Indictment

A judge threw out a murder indictment against the youngest defendant in an incident law enforcement officials say was Bartow’s first gang-related homicide.

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The local teen charged with murder and other counts in connection with the March 2010 shooting death of 19-year-old Norman Ray Moore Jr. on Middlebrook Drive will not face the trial next week he expected. Superior Court Judge Scott Smith transferred then 14-year-old Leondris “Frog” T. Jackson’s case to juvenile court, which will keep further proceedings confidential.

Jackson’s defense attorney, , moved the court to dismiss the indictment returned by a grand jury in October last year. The court found it had lost jurisdiction over the teen’s case due to what Dial described as a new statute. It requires indictments be returned against young defendants within 180 days of arrest.

Prosecuting attorneys failed to seek an extension, and Jackson was incarcerated 210 days before the grand jury handed down the indictment. It’s unclear what type of disposition Jackson, now 16, could face, although officials say the maximum is likely five years of incarceration. He has served a year and a half since the homicide.

Jackson’s Co-defendants Set for Trial

The two other teens accused in Moore's death are set for trial next week, according to Dial. Leondris Jackson's cousins, Dimitrius “C.J.” Metablo Castle Jr., now 18, and Dedric “Boosie” Deshon Jackson, 19, who are brothers, are each charged with murder, a firearm violation and other counts.

authorities last year told Moore’s death resulted from “gang members flexing their muscle” at a Middlebrook Drive birthday party.

Investigators during subsequent court hearings indicated the teens became involved in a physical altercation preceded by turf disputes. A Middlebrook Drive shots fired incident investigators say also was gang-related resulted in no injuries just months before Moore's death.