A 17-year-old boy was charged yesterday as an adult with attempted second-degree murder after Family Court waived its jurisdiction over him.

Precise Andon is being held in lieu of $50,000. He is accused of stabbing a 32-year-old man several times April 12 at Thomas Square at 8:49 p.m.

He is scheduled to make an initial appearance today at District Court.

Andon was arrested yesterday after the court allowed him to be tried as an adult.

Family Court jurisdiction in criminal cases extends to youths under age 18. Prosecutors may seek to try juveniles as adults in serious felony cases.

In waiver hearings, Family Court considers a youth's past history, psychological evaluations, and testimony from mental health experts to ensure the juvenile does not have mental problems. A waiver essentially declares the youth is beyond help in the Family Court system.

Sentencing is the biggest difference between the adult and Family Court systems. Under the Family Court system, a youth can be incarcerated only until age 19, no matter how serious the offense.

The Advertiser reported earlier this month that the Honolulu prosecuting attorney's office handles 3,000 to 4,000 juvenile criminal cases a year. In the past 10 years, prosecutors asked for waivers in only about 100 cases.

For murder cases, no Family Court judge has denied a waiver request in the past 10 years.

A closed-door waiver hearing is scheduled July 24 for a boy, 15, charged with killing his 'Ewa Beach neighbor, Karen Ertell. A 1997 state law allows for juveniles younger than 16 to be tried as adults in serious felony cases.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.