Bond Denied For Teen Accused Of Killing Rabbi

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Bond was denied for a 15-year old accused of killing a rabbi during a robbery attempt.

DeAndre Charles remained silent during his court appearance. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer said it was a very difficult decision for the court and then ruled that he should be held without bond.

"Your client is being charged with murder, first degree murder, which is a very serious offense in which a Grand Jury has found there is probable cause," said Judge Glazer.

Charles' attorney, Adam Goodman, said he was at a bit of a disadvantage because the prosecutor did not reveal any evidence against his client except for the Grand Jury indictment.

"We don't think the state has proof of anything other than filing a piece of paper. We all know the long standing joke that a Grand Jury would indict a ham sandwich. We don't know what the evidence is yet because we haven't seen anything and all we have right now is a piece of paper which says that they think he did it," said Goodman who plans to appeal the judges' no bond decision.

Goodman stated in Florida certain crimes are deemed as non-bondable offenses – armed robbery, murder, etc.

However, there is typically a request for an Arthur Hearing, which is a hearing where a judge could grant a bond on a non-bondable offense.

Goodman said in Broward a bond judge has done mini-Arthur Hearings at first appearance based upon an arrest report. In Miami, that is not done.

Goodman later went on to cite the Arthur case, which specifically states "that before release on bail pending trial can ever be denied, the state must come forward with a showing that the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption is great."

Charles' family was in court for the hearing, but refused to make any statements.

Ron Ishoy, a spokesman for the Broward State Attorney's Office, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that while there is no prohibition in the state against giving bond to juveniles charged as an adult with first degree murder, he said Broward prosecutors would "vociferously" object to bond being granted to any juvenile charged with first-degree murder.

Charles will be tried as an adult. His next scheduled court appearance is on December 14th.

Rabbi Joseph Raksin was visiting his daughter and her family in North Miami when he was shot and killed on August 9, 2014.

"He was shot and killed while he was on his way to synagogue in the area of 175th Street and NE 8th Court," said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle during a news conference on Wednesday. "As a deeply religious orthodox Jew, he was carrying nothing of value as it was the Sabbath."

Fernandez Rundle said two males were seen running away from the shooting. The police believe several more individuals may have been involved.

Police sources told CBS4's Investigative Reporter Jim DeFede that police and prosecutors identified the teen accused of Rabbi Raksin's murder within weeks of the shooting. However, they waited 16 months to build their case and make an arrest. Investigators used phone records and DNA to piece together the circumstantial case.

Charles' family insists he's innocent.

They say the teen was at home when Raksin was killed.

Attorney Goodman did not bring up an alibi defense during Thursday's hearing.