LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — One of the nine teens arrested in the beating death of a Rancho High School student agreed to plead guilty to an amended charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Two more teens are in negotiations with prosecutors on similar plea agreements, their defense attorneys informed the court.
Five teens have not been publicly identified because they are not being tried as adults.
Four of those teens appeared before Judge Amy Mastin on Wednesday morning for certification hearing status checks.
One has already been found competent for trial and is expected back in court on Feb. 7. Another was still in negotiations with prosecutors over their offer of a plea deal, his defense attorney said. He is also due back in court on Feb. 7.
Complications arose in the case of an additional teenaged suspect whose defense attorney argued his client's case should be tried differently than the other defendants.
Attorney Edward Miley told the court his client has the intellectual capacity of a first-grader, despite being in 10th grade. Miley also cited "physical handicaps" in his argument for a comprehensive clinical evaluation in the teen's case.
"My client has the intellectual capacity of a first grader," said Miley. "Based upon the fact that he reads and writes on a first grade level, the fact that he has some other issues I don't want to get into in front of the press but the D.A. has seen them, we are asking for a competency exam."
Judge Mastin ordered a comprehensive clinic evaluation of the teen in custody, who is scheduled back in court on Feb. 28.
Lewis' mother and aunt also appeared in court virtually.
Four additional teens over the age of 16 were indicted by a grand jury earlier this month and their cases are in the adult court system.
Gianni Robinson, Treavion Randolph and Dontral Beaver are currently in custody at Clark County Detention Center.
Damien Hernandez has posted bond.
Video shown to the grand jury was released last week. Cell phone and surveillance footage appear to show a mob of teenagers attacking Lewis on November 1.
Lewis died six days later from injuries.
The four teens in the adult court system are scheduled to be back in court February 22 for a trial readiness check.
