MN teen seeks trial as juvenile in Iowa killings
Published 2:58 pm Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ALGONA, Iowa — The attorney for a Minnesota teenager charged with killing two store clerks in northern Iowa wants the cases transferred to juvenile court.
Seventeen-year-old Michael Swanson, of St. Louis Park, Minn., is charged as an adult with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in Kossuth and Humboldt counties. He’s accused of killing a clerk in Algona on Nov. 15. Authorities say he then drove to Humboldt where he’s accused of killing another clerk.
Defense attorney Charles Kenville filed motions to transfer jurisdiction on Monday. Kenville declined to comment on Wednesday.
WHO-TV of Des Moines first reported the request.
Swanson’s trial for the Humboldt slaying is Feb. 16. Trial for the Algona killing is March 1. He remains in the Kossuth County jail on $1 million bond.