ST. GEORGE, Utah, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A 15-year-old boy will soon become the youngest inmate at Utah's state prison as the teenager recently pleaded guilty to raping and killing a teenage girl.
After Carlos Adrian Javier Hernandez pleaded guilty this week to raping and killing 15-year-old Keely Amber Hall, the presiding 5th District Court judge sentenced the teenager to 15 years to life in the state prison, The Salt Lake Tribune said Wednesday.
While a charge of aggravated sexual assault was dropped during Tuesday's trial, Judge James L. Shumate added a five years to life sentence for the rape charge.
During the teen's trial, Washington County Deputy Attorney Ryan Shaum detailed how Hernandez had killed Hall after she spurned his sexual advances.
"(Hernandez) became angry and physically assaulted Hall, who in the process was raped," Shaum said of the incident earlier this year. "At some point during the rape, she stopped breathing and (Hernandez) left the area."
The Tribune said officials at the state prison have been informed of Hernandez's age and accommodations will likely be made to ensure his safety during his incarceration.
