ELYRIA — A 16-year-old North Ridgeville boy accused of murder in the stabbing death of a family friend agreed Friday to have his case moved to adult court.

Daniel Kovarbasich waived a hearing before Lorain County Juvenile Judge David Berta in which prosecutors would have had to convince a judge there was enough evidence to warrant the murder charge. Under Ohio law, 16-year-olds accused of murder are required to be tried as adults.

Daniel is accused of fatally stabbing 55-year-old Duane Hurley on Jan. 22 multiple times with a kitchen knife. His father, Terry Kovarbasich, called 911 as he was driving his son to the hospital after the incident.

In the 911 call, the elder Kovarbasich told a police dispatcher that Hurley was supposed to take Daniel to school that day, but his son called him and said Hurley had attacked him.

After Friday’s hearing, Daniel’s mother, Donna Kovarbasich, shouted toward North Ridgeville police officers and Hurley’s family who were in the hallway.

“You stand by touchers, people who touch other people! Are you proud?” Donna Kovarbasich said through tears.

Michael Stepanik, Daniel’s attorney, said later in the day that Hurley had made an attempt to inappropriately touch his client but wouldn’t say if it took place the day of the killing or beforehand.

North Ridgeville Police Capt. Al Dent said police have heard the allegation of sexual misconduct before, but he wouldn’t say if there was any evidence of that.

“It’s one of many things we’re still looking at,” he said.

Hurley spent 90 days in jail after a 2004 conviction of bribery, falsification and theft in office for taking money from criminals he was supervising while he worked as special services supervisor in Avon Lake. He has no record of sex crimes.

Hurley’s family declined to comment as they left Friday’s hearing.

Terry Kovarbasich called the case against his son “a travesty.”

County Prosecutor Dennis Will said Daniel hasn’t talked to police and his attorneys have yet to discuss the case at length with his office, but he’s willing to look at any evidence that’s put forward.

During Friday’s hearing, Stepanik urged Berta to release his client on personal bond, arguing that Daniel has strong roots in the community and no serious prior criminal record.

“This kid isn’t a problem kid,” he said.

Assistant County Prosecutor Brendan Mackin asked Berta to set bond in the case between $750,000 and $1 million, which he said is typical in murder cases.

Berta set bond at $500,000 and Daniel, who has been in the county Juvenile Detention Home since his arrest a few days after Hurley was killed, was transferred to the county jail later in the day.

As he left the courtroom, his father and mother hugged him.

“I love you,” a sobbing Donna Kovarbasich said as she hugged Daniel. “Stay strong.”

Prosecutors will now present the case against Daniel — two counts each of murder and felonious assault — to a county grand jury.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.