122816...R LAROSA 1...Warren...12-28-16... Jacob LaRosa, teen murder suspect, left, with Public Defender Matt Pentz before Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay during a hearing Wednesday afternoon...by R. Michael Semple

WARREN — A Niles teenager accused of slaying a 94-year-old neighbor in March 2015 will undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if he can stand trial.

Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay on Wednesday approved motions by Jacob LaRosa’s public defenders to see if the teen is fit to be tried on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and attempted rape in the slaying of Marie Belcastro at her Niles home. LaRosa, who will turn 18 in July, was 15 at the time of the slaying.

Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker had no objection to the defense motions but said the mid-January hearing over the suppression of evidence in the case will be postponed. McKay said LaRosa’s scheduled March 20 jury trial may have to be moved.

“These proceedings are going to grind to a standstill while the competency will be evaluated,” Becker said. “The forensic center has been taking eight to 10 weeks to prepare their report.”

McKay, who also approved the funding of defense experts as well as released some hearing documents, said both sides should report back to him at a Feb. 8 pre-trial.

In the meantime, LaRosa, whose family members were present in court, will remain in custody at the Juvenile Justice Center. McKay kept LaRosa’s bond at $3 million.

Also in the courtroom Wednesday were family members of the victim.

If convicted of the charges, LaRosa faces a sentence of life without the chance for parole.

Earlier this year, the Ohio Supreme Court refused to hear a defense appeal that questioned Family Court Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood’s decision to move his case into the adult system. The 11th District Court of Appeals already had denied the defense’s attempt to move the case back to juvenile court.

In the fall of 2015, Harwood ruled LaRosa is mature and not mentally disabled, so he could be tried in the adult system. The teen had previously undergone seven years of failed treatment in the juvenile system, the judge noted. The Niles Police Department had 19 reports from incidents involving LaRosa dating back to September 2013.

LaRosa knew Belcastro, who lived in Niles for decades. Witnesses said she paid him for lawn work on several occasions. The woman was also known to bake cookies for the neighborhood children.

The teen is accused of beating Belcastro to death with a blow to the head with a blunt object, according to a Niles police report. Belcastro was found just after 5:30 p.m. the day of the slaying. At 5:35 p.m., police were called to LaRosa’s home after he stumbled inside covered with blood, according to a search warrant filed in Common Pleas Court.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com