Teen sentenced as adult for West Orange murder

David Ball

For The Record

An Orange teenager who murdered a 63 year old West Orange man will have to serve at least 15 years of a sentence before he can be eligible for parole.

Braeden Richter, 15, was sentenced on Monday to 30 years after pleading guilty to the May 25, 2011 shooting death of Charles Henry Southard. He was sentenced in Judge Buddie Hahn’s 260th District Court.

Richter was certified last week to stand trial as an adult for the murder and indicted by a Grand Jury on May 16.

The shooting occurred on May 25, 2011 in the 1300 block of Milam Street. West Orange Police reports read two boys, Richter, then 14, and a 9 year old boy, were trying to steal Southard’s car at his house. He tried to stop the boys and was shot by Richter.

Since the 9 year old is under age 10, he cannot be charge according to Texas law.