By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

A Shelby County grand jury soon will decide if it will uphold felony charges against an Alabaster teen who allegedly assaulted a victim during a robbery in November 2013.

In a Shelby County Circuit Court documents posted on Feb. 20, Judge Dan Reeves issued an order sending charges against 19-year-old Justin Edward Catlin to a Shelby County grand jury to consider “at its next available session.”

“An expedited grand jury setting shall be made since the defendant is incarcerated,” read the order.

Catlin, whose address is listed on 13^th Street Southwest in Alabaster, was arrested by the Alabaster Police Department on Nov. 20, 2013, and charged with felony counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and second-degree assault.

The arrest came a few days after Catlin allegedly assaulted a homeowner on Bare Tree Drive in Alabaster during a Nov. 16 robbery at about 1:05 p.m., Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney said previously. The victim in the case suffered non life-threatening injuries in the incident, and was treated and released from Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

According to police incident reports and Catlin’s arrest warrant, Catlin allegedly entered the victim’s residence armed with a pistol and stole a wallet containing about $325 and a cell phone from the victim.

After investigating the incident, Alabaster police located Catlin in Birmingham and arrested him on Nov. 20, Rigney said.

According to Alabama law, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary both are Class A felonies. Second-degree assault is a Class C felony. If convicted of the crimes, Catlin could face a minimum of 21 years in prison.

In December 2013, Catlin requested youthful offender status in the cases. As of Feb. 25, Reeves had not issued an order on Catlin’s request for youthful offender status.

If Catlin is awarded youthful offender status, he will waive his right to a trial by jury, and could face a less severe range of punishments than he would face if tried as an adult.