North Huntingdon man, now 19, seeks to move armed robbery case to juvenile court

A now 19-year-old man should be prosecuted in juvenile court for a 2020 armed robbery of two men in Mt. Pleasant, a psychologist told a Westmoreland County judge.

Dr. Michael Crabtree, a professor at Washington and Jefferson College who was hired by the legal defense team, said Elijah Chaabane’s life dramatically changed as a teenager after the death of a grandparent — a life event that prompted his relocation to North Huntingdon and started a spiral that resulted in several brushes with the law.

“He is amendable to the juvenile justice system, where appropriate treatment is available,” Crabtree testified Monday.

Chaabane was less than two months shy of his 18th birthday when he was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged armed robbery in December 2020. Chaabane was charged as an adult with four robbery counts, conspiracy, illegal firearm possession and other related offenses.

Police said Chaabane contacted a man through a smartphone app to request a ride from North Huntingdon to Mt. Pleasant in exchange for $40. When they arrived in Mt. Pleasant, Chaabane pointed a loaded pistol at two men.

He demanded money, shoes and clothing from one man and a cell phone from the other, according to court documents.

Joe Litzinger, a juvenile probation officer, testified Chaabane has had three prior criminal cases prosecuted in the juvenile courts, including incidents in which he was accused of simple assault, theft of a car and illegal possession of drugs and a gun.

Prosecutors have opposed moving Chaabane’s case to juvenile court, where a conviction would at most keep him in custody or under court supervision until he turns 21.

Dr. William Bush, a court-appointed psychologist, evaluated Chaabane last summer. According to the prosecution, he determined that Chaabane did not meet the requirements to have the case moved to juvenile court.

Bush had just started his testimony on Monday when a fire alarm caused a brief evacuation of the Greensburg courthouse. A sprinkler system malfunctioned on the upper level of the building’s parking garage.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears said the hearing will be reconvened at a later date.

Meanwhile, Chaabane remains in the county jail on $100,000 bond.

His two co-defendants, Jake Franklin, now 18, and brother Kyle Franklin, 16, both of Mt. Pleasant, are scheduled to appear before Mears on March 7. They also are seeking to have their cases moved to juvenile court.