A couple of weeks ago, it appeared the stabbing case against Tyreke Morton would be settled in family court under the state's youthful offender law. But this week that changed.

Morton, 19, is accused of stabbing a family friend and trying to attack her toddler.

WCAX News reported Tuesday that Morton is taking a plea deal and could get out of jail next month.

Our Cat Viglienzoni has been covering this case. She spoke with Galen Ettlin to explain what changed in this case.

Galen Ettlin: Why would they opt to proceed in adult criminal court instead?

Cat Viglienzoni: I asked the state's attorney and he said it was likely for few reasons: It allows Morton to get out of jail much sooner, in theory, next month as long as the judge accepts the plea agreement. That allows him to get back to his life, his friends and family. That was something we heard emphasized in court by his defense, who pointed to the many people who expressed support for him and described him as a wonderful, bright young man. The defense attorney told me she believed he had a psychotic episode when the attack happened and the judge indicated she also believed he has a lot of potential. Hence wanting to get him out of jail as soon as the law would allow.

Galen Ettlin: So the defense gains an earlier release with the deal. Why would prosecutors agree to it?

Cat Viglienzoni: State's Attorney Rory Thibault told me it allowed them to have a permanent conviction. A youthful offender sentence is effectively treated as a deferred sentence. So it won't appear on a record. His office wanted there to be longer-term ramifications, like not being able to buy a gun, 10 years of supervision, GPS monitoring, curfews and rehabilitation to get back into the community. That's what they got out of a deal in criminal court that they wouldn't have gotten in family court.

Galen Ettlin: How does the alleged victim feel about the deal?

Cat Viglienzoni: She indicated during testimony that she had hoped the judge would keep him behind bars for a long time. But it was clear from the judge's comments at the last hearing that the judge wanted Morton out of jail as soon as possible. So it was clear she would not get that. The state's attorney said she was not enthusiastic about the deal but she understood why it happened. And he described her as an amazing and resilient person for them to work with through this all.

Galen Ettlin: Looking at the big picture-- this case was somewhat a battle over the state's youthful offender law. Why was that?

Cat Viglienzoni: Vermont's youthful offender law was expanded this summer to include young adults up to age 22. The defender general's office says that's because not enough people were using that youthful offender status. And they point out brain development continues into a person's 20s. And they say the law was intended to cover serious violent crimes like this one, not lower-level offenses. And the privacy in these youthful offender cases is designed to allow the offender to rehabilitate and re-enter society without having their crime define the rest of their lives.

The state's attorney objected to that youthful offender status in this case, arguing that he believes violent felony cases should be resolved in criminal not family court. The judge disagreed.

Galen Ettlin: Is the Legislature going to make changes to the law?

Cat Viglienzoni: I'm told it will be looked at again next year but the defender general's office says there will likely not be any major changes.