Tyler Hudson, who was arrested for the murder of Daniel Ray Osborn II in March, on Tuesday was denied youthful offender status in the crime. (Cullman County Sheriff’s Office)
CULLMAN – On Tuesday afternoon, Tyler Hudson, who was arrested with Andrew Maresh in March for the murder of Daniel Ray Osborn, Jr., saw his motion for youthful offender (YO) status denied by Circuit Judge Martha Williams, according to a source inside the courthouse.
At the time of their arrests, Maresh was 19 and Hudson was 20. Defendants who are younger than 21 at the time of the offense with which they are charged can qualify for YO status, but courts have discretion in their decisions under Alabama Code Section 15-19-1. YO status focuses on rehabilitation of the offender, and keeps the crime off the offender’s public record, even in the case of a conviction. If a defendant qualifies as a YO, the penalty of a guilty verdict can be significantly reduced, with prison sentences not to exceed three years.
YO requests often consider the defendant’s prior criminal history, role in the offense, seriousness of the offense and potential for rehabilitation, among other factors.
Maresh pleads not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect
Maresh also applied for YO status over the summer, and saw his request denied on Aug. 14. A short time later, he added to his initial not guilty plea an additional plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Williams ordered Maresh to undergo an outpatient evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist from the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. His case is currently continued pending the outcome of that evaluation.
Osborn’s body was found buried on the Fairview property of Susan Winton Smith, Maresh’s grandmother, on the afternoon of March 26, 2018. Court documents revealed that Osborn died of a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Hudson and Maresh were arrested and charged with murder that evening. Smith was later charged with hindering prosecution, and more recently with murder in the case.
A Cullman County Sheriff’s Office report available on Alacourt indicates that Maresh claimed that Hudson pulled the trigger, and that he had nothing to do with the murder. Maresh later changed his statement to say that he had helped bury the body but continued to deny involvement in the murder.
Background:
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/08/15/maresh-denied-youthful-offender-status-osborn-murder-implicated-co-defendant
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/07/20/grandmother-indicted-murder-hindering-prosecution-death-daniel-osborn-now-facing
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/07/03/suspects-daniel-osborn-murder-seeking-youthful-offender-status
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/04/16/grandmother-suspect-osborn-murder-facing-charge-case
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/03/28/gentry-speaks-about-fairview-murder
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/03/27/update-2-charged-murder-after-body-missing-hartselle-man-found-buried-fairview
www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/03/26/body-missing-man-found-buried-fairview-2-custody-0
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