The attorneys for two boys accused of a suspected armed drug rip-off attempt in Butler want their clients’ cases moved from adult court to juvenile court.

“I think he has a better chance at being rehabilitated through the juvenile system rather than being warehoused in the adult system,” said public defender Ryan Helsel of the 17-year-old Buffalo Township boy he’s representing.

“I think there are a lot of factors why this matter should be heard in juvenile court,” attorney Tyler DeLuco of Pittsburgh said of the 16-year-old Butler boy he’s representing.

Moments after their clients gave up their rights to have a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Judge William Fullerton of Butler, both attorneys said they would soon file motions in Butler County Court asking that the boys be prosecuted as juveniles.

The Butler Eagle is not identifying the teens because of their ages.

Butler police accused the boys of planning to rob Charles G. Petredis Jr., 32, of Butler, who had allegedly agreed to sell marijuana to them Nov. 18.

When Petredis arrived for the alleged drug deal on East Brady Street, court documents said, the younger boy got into the man’s car and told him to drive to a secluded alley behind the 600 block of East Brady Street.

Once there, the boy told Petredis that “he was keeping (the man’s) money to buy marijuana in one of the (nearby) garages,” according to a police affidavit.

After Petredis got out of his car, the older boy and another unidentified male jumped out of a garage and started punching the man.

“During the course of the attack,” the affidavit said, “(the 16-year-old) pulled a pistol, pointed it at Petredis, and demanded the marijuana, and any money he had.”

A struggle ensued and at some point the gun fired, hitting the 17-year-old in the right forearm.

Petredis, both suspects and the other male, who police have still not identified, fled. Police were called for the reported gunshot.

Later, officers learned that the 17-year-old had been shot and was hiding at his younger accomplice’s home.

Police said they found the older boy at the house. They also recovered a .22-caliber revolver there.

The 17-year-old was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and later treated at a Pittsburgh hospital. He has since recovered, authorities said.

Police initially charged the two suspects in juvenile court. However, authorities later learned that since a gun was used in the alleged crime, both boys should have been immediately charged as adults.

Under state law, cases of juveniles age 15 and older accused of committing a violent crime with a deadly weapon are automatically directed to adult court.

Both youths are charged with attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, both felonies.

The 16-year-old also is charged with two other felonies — aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a minor. Additionally, he is charged with possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault and reckless endangerment.

If the court rules that the teens be tried as juveniles, a conviction would confine them to a juvenile facility only until they turn 21. If the judge rules otherwise, an attempted robbery conviction could mean 20 years in prison.

The boys’ next scheduled court appearance is March 1, when they are to be formally arraigned in county court.

But before then, Helsel and DeLuco said they each plan to file a decertification motion in hopes of convincing a judge to move their clients’ cases to juvenile court.

“I think he’s amenable to treatment in the juvenile system, which is more therapeutic- and rehabilitative-based than the adult system, which is more punitive,” Helsel said of the 17-year-old boy.

Helsel and DeLuco both said their clients have minimal juvenile records and neither was previously charged with a violent crime.

“Whatever the outcome,” DeLuco said, “I plan to fight the charges. I disagree on the factual issues in this case.“

DeLuco also questioned the credibility of the principal prosecution witness, Petredis, who is facing his own charges in the case.

Police said when officers arrived after being called for the shooting, they found the man’s car with the front windows rolled down and the passenger side door open.

In plain view, police saw a rolled-up $100 bill on a tray with white powder in the center console, court documents said. The car also reeked of marijuana.

Investigators later got a search warrant for Petredis’ vehicle and seized 195 grams of marijuana, two bags containing 30 prescription painkillers, and a loaded 9 mm handgun, documents said.

Petredis is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility, both felonies, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

He, too, waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday. He remains free on $30,000 bail.

Because they are minors, both boys are in the custody of juvenile court authorities.

The 16-year-old remains at the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center in Ohio. The 17-year-old is being held at Western PA ChildCare juvenile facility in Allegheny Township.

Richard Bosco, a Butler County assistant district attorney who was prepared to prosecute the cases Tuesday, declined to comment.