Holdup Suspect, 17, to Be Tried as a Juvenile

A Sylmar Juvenile Court judge Wednesday decided that a suspected teen-age bank robber should be tried as a juvenile, not an adult.

Mark Berman, 17, “is not criminally sophisticated and that’s the key,” said Judge Burton S. Katz, ruling that Berman should remain in the juvenile system where he can receive better psychological counseling than in the adult court system.

Berman and a 17-year-old Taft High School classmate, Michael Morrison, both of Tarzana, are charged with the armed robbery of more than $4,000 from Encino Savings & Loan Assn. and with stealing three cars at gunpoint.

Katz said he considered ordering that Berman be tried as an adult because of “the terror that was visited upon these victims,” but letters from Berman’s friends and employers convinced the judge that the youth would have the needed outside support to be rehabilitated.

“But I find it incredible and naive to believe that this minor is not a danger or a menace to society, this youngster who would put a loaded weapon within inches of a victim’s face in broad daylight,” Katz said.

Defense attorney Paul Geragos said after Katz’s decision that he will consider negotiating a plea for Berman that would avoid a trial. Berman is to enter a plea Friday.