Marin Convict Max Wade Could Get Shorter Sentence In Attempted Murder Case

MARIN COUNTY, CA – An appellate court ruled Wednesday that Marin County teen Max Wade should have had a hearing whether he would be tried as an adult or juvenile for the attempted shooting murder of a romantic rival in 2012.

Wade, now 22, was tried as an adult because he was 17 at the time of the attempted shooting murder in Mill Valley of Landon Wahlstrom, then 18, who was dating a girl Wade was pursuing.

Judge Kelly Vieira sentenced him to 20 years to life with the possibility of parole. She also sentenced Wade to 16 months in prison for stealing celebrity chef Guy Fieri's Lamborghini from a San Francisco dealership in 2011.

The 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco reversed Wade's attempted murder sentence and ordered a fitness hearing in juvenile court within 90 days.

Wade's attorney said this afternoon if a juvenile court judge decides Wade should remain in the juvenile justice system, he possibly could remain there until he is 25.

"He was a juvenile at the time and should be tried as a juvenile," Dresow said.

Dresow argued in his appeal that voter-approved Proposition 57 entitles Wade to a fitness hearing and that a judge, not the prosecution, should decide whether a defendant under 18 should be tried as an adult or juvenile.

By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock