The 10-year-old boy accused in the slaying of his father, white supremacist leader Jeff Hall, faces very little time behind bars, according to officials in southern California.
"Because of his age, he cannot be tried as an adult," John Hall, a spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, told The Huffington Post. “Everything will be occurring in juvenile court.”
If the child is ultimately convicted of his father’s murder, he will be kept in juvenile custody until he is 18 years old. He will then be released or transferred to another facility until he is 25 years old, Hall said.
"Twenty-five would be the max," added Hall, meaning the boy cannot be held past his 25th birthday.
Authorities found Hall, a 32-year-old plumber, dead inside his Riverside home at about 4 a. m. Sunday. He died of a single gunshot wound, the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner said. Police say his son admitted to the shooting.
Hall has been cited by multiple sources as a neo-Nazi and regional director of the National Socialist Movement. The organization’s website describes the group as the "largest National Socialist Party operating in the United States of America today" and claims members' core beliefs include "defending the rights of white people everywhere" and the "promotion of white separation."
The Anti-Defamation League considers the NSM to be the largest neo-Nazi group in the country. According to the ADL’s website, the NSM has members in every region of the United States.
Matt Hardy, the public defender representing Hall's son, did not immediately return calls for comment from The Huffington Post today. According to The Associated Press, Hardy is considering an insanity defense and is waiting to review records from social workers who began monitoring the boy’s family following allegations of abuse and neglect.
Child Protective Services was reportedly called to the family's home four times in 2003 and four times in years prior to that.
"We have to look at the things that are mental elements," Hardy told the AP. "Whether he pulled the trigger or not is not the end of the inquiry."
Neither Hardy nor Hall has commented on a potential motive in the shooting.
"Nothing that we can speak about," Hall said. "It is a little too early to speak about that part of it."
Asked whether Hall’s neo-Nazi affiliation had anything to do with it, Hall replied, "It doesn't appear to."
The 10-year-old boy, whom The Huffington Post is not identifying due to his age, is expected to appear in court on May 18.
"He has not entered a plea yet," Hall said. "He may or may not enter a plea of some type that day."