A 16-year-old who was certified in July to stand trial as an adult was indicted Thursday on charges of murder, aggravated sexual assault of a child and burglary of a habitation.

Michael "Little Mike" Martinez Jr. is accused of beating a homeless man to death last year.

The day after Eric McMahon was found dead, Martinez allegedly entered the garage of a home on North 14th Street with the intention of assaulting a female resident of the home. The woman later identified Martinez as the suspected assailant and he was charged with burglary.

The aggravated sexual assault charge stems from a May 2007 incident in which Martinez allegedly assaulted a 12-year-old girl at the home of a friend.

Murder and aggravated sexual assault of a child are first-degree felonies; burglary of a habitation is a second-degree felony. If convicted, Martinez could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Also, three men accused of running a car burglary ring were indicted Thursday by a Taylor County grand jury on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Roommates Thomas James Richter, 22, Caleb Benjamin Martin, 19, and Garrett Anthony Morales, 19, are accused of breaking into more than 25 cars throughout the county.

All three suspects admitted the thefts to police, according to Reporter-News files.

The car burglaries were committed by either two members of the group, or all three, depending upon the time and situation, reports said. All three shared in the profits.

Richter and Martin were arrested in mid-August, and Morales turned himself into authorities Tuesday. None of the suspects has a criminal history, according to court records. The charge of engaging in organized criminal activity is a felony. Punishment ranges from 180 days to 99 years in jail.

The grand jury also handed down an indictment for a man accused of striking a toddler because she had "messed in her pants."

Cheyenne David Newman was arrested in July and charged with two counts of injury to a child. Newman admitted to police that he'd struck the 3-year-old daughter of his girlfriend in the face with his fist and that he'd slammed her head into a toilet. Newman previously has been convicted of racing, burglary of a habitation and criminal trespassing, according to a public records search.