Jake Kraus was attacked by three people while walking home in downtown Great Falls on the night of September 8, 2024.
The brutal attack left him hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury, spending days in a medically-induced coma.
Three teens have been charged for the assault, and one of them was in court on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Ethanel Philip Pherigo, 19, was charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of robbery, as surveillance video of the attack allegedly shows Pherigo going through the victim’s pockets.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges in an arraignment hearing earlier this month and has a trial date set for January 27, 2025.
Shaun Anthony Deberry, 19, appeared in court on Thursday, October 17, for arraignment and was charged with one count of aggravated assault, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
Deberry pleaded not guilty and has a trial date set for February 10, 2025.
The third suspect, 14-year-old Jesse James Edwards, Jr., has been charged as an adult with one count of attempted deliberate homicide, and one count of aggravated assault.
Initially, he was charged only with aggravated assault, but court documents dated September 18 include the charge of attempted deliberate homicide.
Surveillance video of the attack allegedly shows Edwards stomping repeatedly on the victim’s head. He is the only suspect charged with attempted deliberate homicide and remains in custody on a $250,000 bond.
On October 8, 2024, Jake Kraus was transferred from Benefis hospital in Great Falls to Craig Hospital in Colorado to continue his recovery.
Craig Hospital is a neurorehabilitation and research hospital specializing in spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.
