We've written about Thomas White a few times. When he was 13 years old, White allegedly brought a gun to school, fired into a ceiling and tried to shoot an administrator -- only his gun jammed, the Joplin Globe reports. Despite his age, he was certified to stand trial as an adult. Now 16, White has been in custody ever since.
By pleading, White could get a shot at a state program where underage offenders are given counseling, training -- help he would not get in an adult facility. If White were to complete the program, he could get a shot at probation. Or he could be sent to "real" prison at 21. He could potentially be sentenced to 15 years.
