MT. VERNON — A ruling in Jefferson County Court on Monday has transferred a local murder case to juvenile court.

Court reports indicate that Resident Judge Jo Beth Weber ruled in favor of a defense motion seeking to transfer the case of 21-year-old Christopher Wells to juvenile court citing recent changes to the law. Wells, who was 15 at the time, is one of four men charged for the 2011 murder of local cab driver Charles Ellis.

Wells pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2012 for his role in the crime but was charged as an adult.

The Attorney General’s office objected to the motion and plans to file a petition to transfer the case back to adult court. That argument will be heard on Sept. 26. Wells’ guilty plea is active, but sentencing is dependent upon whether he is goes through court as a juvenile or as an adult.

Two other men charged in the case have already been sentenced for their roles with Damondros James sentenced to 50 years for first-degree murder and Demandre Black sentenced to 20 years for aggravated battery with a firearm. Another suspect, Mark Taylor, Jr., is awaiting trial on three counts of first-degree murder.