Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser announced the transfer from Juvenile Court to Adult Court for sixteen-year-old Cordae Curb. Curb is one of two individuals charged with murder in the April 24, 2024 shooting death of Southeast High School
student Keyon Day. Curb, who was fifteen at the time of the offense, is alleged to be the driver of the stolen vehicle from which the deadly shots were fired. He was initially charged in juvenile court with First Degree Murder under accountability, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Street Gang Member, and Obstructing Justice for attempting to dispose of the firearm used in the murder.
Under Illinois law, transfers from Juvenile Court to Adult Court for First Degree Murder are discretionary until individuals reach the age of sixteen. A Petition to Transfer was filed by the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Curb appeared in court on June 3, 2024, in front of Judge Karen Tharp. Judge Tharp ruled that the transfer was appropriate, finding it was not in the best interest of the public for the charges to remain in Juvenile Court and that the security of the public requires Curb to be subject to charges as an adult.
After the transfer hearing, Curb was charged as an adult with the same counts, was arraigned, and was ordered detained. Curb’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 20, 2024.
Dremone Patterson, who was sixteen at the time of the offense and automatically transferred to Adult Court, has been previously charged and indicted on First Degree Murder, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Street Gang Member. Patterson is alleged to have fired the shots that killed Day using a stolen firearm from a stolen vehicle driven by Curb. Patterson is next set for court on June 24, 2024.
When one or more people act together to commit a crime, all of those involved can be charged with the same offense, even if they think they are playing a minor part in the crime. In this case,Curb was the driver of the car from which Patterson fired the shots that killed Day. Therefore, he is accountable for the actions of Patterson and is also charged with murder. The sentence for First Degree Murder is 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with no good-time credit available. If a jury finds that either defendant personally discharged the firearm that killed Day there is an additional enhancement of 25 years to life added to the sentence, which is discretionary for juveniles charged as adults.
Both juveniles remain in custody. The firearm used in this crime has been recovered.
Says State’s Attorney Milhiser, “Violent crime committed by anyone in our community, including juveniles, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to protect our neighborhoods from those that seek to cause harm.” Adds Springfield Police Chief Kenny Scarlette, “With the summer months upon us, we are laser-focused on keeping our streets safe and will continue to work with our partners to identify and investigate violent crime.”