A Hamilton County Juvenile Court judge has ruled that the media will be allowed to be present at a June 18 hearing that will determine if a 14-year-old accused of murder and rape will be tried as an adult.

The public usually is barred from attending Juvenile Court hearings, but exceptions exist.

If a juvenile is at least 14 and is charged with certain “aggravated” crimes such as murder or rape, officials are allowed to make public certain documents with regard to the case. The judge can then decide whether to open the court hearings to the public.

Authorities say the teen in late April raped a three-year-old girl who was staying with him and his mother at their Georgetown, Tenn., home. Little else is known about the circumstances leading up to the little girl’s death, but the hearing is expected to shed more light on the crime as details will be discussed and argued.

See tomorrow’s Times Free Press for complete details.