Utah Teen Commits Drive-Up Armed Robbery

A 16-year-old boy is under arrest after committing armed robbery at two Utah County banks last Saturday—through the drive-up.

Drive-Through Armed Robbery

The young man allegedly sent a note through the drive-up canister at the first bank saying he had a weapon and demanding money. The teller sent him an undisclosed amount of money and he drove off. Possibly since the first try worked so well, 20 minutes later he used the same technique at another bank, again receiving money through a drive-up canister.

Tellers were able to give law enforcement descriptions of the vehicle, which police found abandoned a short distance away. They soon saw the teen walking down the road. The teen was arrested and is in juvenile detention, facing two second-degree felony charges of armed robbery.

Juvenile or Adult?

Whether the young man will be charged as an adult or remain in juvenile court is up to a juvenile court judge. The prosecutor files a request with the juvenile court to certify the youth an adult, and the judge makes the decision whether the teen remains in juvenile court or the case is transferred to district court.

If he is charged as an adult he could spend a significant amount of time incarcerated in prison, since second-degree felonies can carry a 1-15 years penalty. If he remains in the purview of the juvenile justice system, his case will be handled differently, although he might still spend time in juvenile detention.

Let an Attorney be your Guide

When any youth is in this type of situation, it is vital that he be represented by a juvenile defense attorney. An attorney can be a tremendous help by navigating the legal system on behalf of the child and his or her parents. Attorneys are trained to deal with law enforcement and the courts, and may well be the best advocate a youth can have.

Contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney today if your child is facing any legal charges. It may be the most important phone call you’ll ever make.