Hearing to determine whether teen accused of murdering Sunshine Stewart will be tried as an adult may not be scheduled until 2027

July 2025 murder of Sunshine Stewart

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 2:05pm

Sarah Shepherd

ROCKLAND– A court hearing to determine whether 18-year-old Deven Young will be charged as an adult for the murder of Sunshine Stewart in July 2025 may not be held until January or February in 2027.

A hearing on the progress of scheduling a bind-over hearing was held via Zoom on Sept. 1 in Knox County Court. Judge Eric Walker presided at the hearing with Maine Deputy Attorney General and Chief of the Criminal Division, Lisa Bogue, representing the state and defense attorney Jeremy Pratt. The bind-over hearing would be to determine if Young’s case will be tried in the adult court system.

Young did not attend the hearing.

Pratt said the expert for the defense needs three months to issue a report after performing a diagnostic evaluation of Young. The expert has had difficulty getting into the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, where Young is being held. Once the expert is able to meet with Young, it is expected that it will take three months to issue a report. Pratt said that the Attorney General’s Office will then need time to review the report before a bind-over hearing is held.

If Young is convicted as an adult he could face a minimum of 25 years in jail up to life in jail, according to Maine law.

Judge Walker asked the prosecution and defense if it would make sense to transfer the case to Kennebec County in Augusta since Knox County Court will be transferring its records online during November and December.

The judge said he was frustrated that the hearing may not be scheduled until 2027. The bind-over hearing is expected to take two to three days.

He asked that another check in occur in mid-November for a status update.

A previous scheduling hearing was held via Zoom on July 14 with the defense, state, and Deven Young, the 18-year-old accused of murdering Sunshine Stewart in July 2025.

Judge Eric Walker also presided over that brief hearing, which is the next step to determine if Young will be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

In July 2025, the Office of the Maine Attorney General said that it would seek to have Young charged as an adult in the murder of Stewart.

At the July 14 hearing, Walker said the court will schedule another hearing in three weeks when a date for the bind-over hearing will be discussed.

A report by the state’s forensic services is expected to be provided to the state and defense in two weeks, according to Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue.

Defense attorney Caitlyn Smith said the defense needs to read the forensic report before it discusses the timeframe to schedule a bind-over hearing.

The Maine Judicial Branch states the following on its website regarding a bind-over hearing: “If a juvenile is charged with a serious offense-murder, or a Class A, B, or C crime if committed by adult, the State may file a motion to have the juvenile tried as an adult. After the motion is filed, the judge will hold a bind-over hearing to determine if the juvenile should be tried as an adult. At the bind over hearing, the court considers testimony as to the seriousness of the offense, various evaluations, and whether the current juvenile system can provide necessary services to the juvenile. If the juvenile is bound over, all remaining court matters are held in adult criminal court and the juvenile is subject to adult penalties.”

Young turned 18 on Sept. 24, 2025, after the murder of Stewart in July.

Judge Eric Walker ruled on April 29 in a competency order that the defendant is, “competent to proceed based on the court’s finding that the juvenile has a rational as well as a fatual understanding of the proceedings and a sufficient present ability to consult with legal counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.”

A hearing on Young’s issue of competency was held in a closed door hearing held at the Knox County Courthouse on Jan. 30, 2026. Young was present and was represented by Attorney Jeremy Pratt and Attorney Caitlyn Smith. The state was represented by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Bogue, Assistant Attorney General Suzanne Russell, and Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Dean.

The competency report will remain under seal by the court as part of the judge’s order.