SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — A 17-year-old accused of carrying out a crowbar attack on another teenager in Satellite Beach was in court on Thursday.
As a juvenile, Dylan Thomas could still face life in prison if convicted of attempted first-degree premeditated murder but not without the possibility of parole.
Thomas has been in custody since he and his co-defendants were arrested in connection to the brutal attack of 17-year-old Daniel Vukovich at a home on the corner of Kale Street and Glenwood Avenue in February.
Photos: Suspects, scene in Satellite Beach crowbar attack
Video: Discovery evidence in crowbar attack
Investigators said the beating stemmed from the defendant's belief the victim stole marijuana from him.
In court on Thursday, Thomas' attorney, Geoffrey Golub, conceded his client could be charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder.
Channel 9 spoke with Golub after the hearing, and he explained exactly why he withdrew the motion.
"What they're saying now is that they can give life, but it has to be reviewed after an amount of time," said Golub. "The idea was always to give a chance to be rehabilitated."
"New case law came out in the last couple of days from the Supreme Court of Florida that supports the state's position in this case," said assistant state attorney Jason Andersen.
The state's case includes Thomas' two co-defendants. Although Thomas is the one accused of wielding the weapon, investigators said 18-year-olds Rebecca Gotay and Jessie Umberger played their own roles in the assault.
Gotay has since bonded out of jail. Umberger is currently being held without bond, and Thomas' bond is $1.1 million.
Thomas' attorney did waive his right to speedy trial on Thursday.
WFTV
