Juvenile Arrested for Vehicle Theft After Attempting to Flee

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, a juvenile in Sandy attempted to flee police in a stolen vehicle. He has been booked for investigation of vehicle theft and operating a vehicle without a license.

All Sorts of Bad Choices

According to a report from KSL News, shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning, a Sandy police officer discovered someone driving a vehicle that had been missing from West Jordan since Thanksgiving. The officer called for backup and followed from a distance.

When the driver of the vehicle seemed to discover that he was being followed, he attempted to flee and made at least his third bad decision since choosing to drive a stolen vehicle without his license and then fleeing from police. He pulled into a dead-end street. The driver got out of the vehicle and attempted to run, but the officer caught him.

According to Sandy Police Sgt. Dean Carriger, “Once in custody, they found the driver was a 14-year-old male juvenile. He was the only occupant in the vehicle.

Police didn’t know at the time of booking if the boy was the one who stole the vehicle or if he got it from somewhere else.

Vehicle Theft Could be Tried as an Adult

According to Utah Criminal Code 76-6-412, vehicle theft is considered an offense against property. In the case of vehicle theft, it is punishable as a second degree felony under the classification of “firearm or operable motor vehicle.”

If an adult is convicted of a second degree felony, they could be punished by up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Because vehicle theft is considered a felony if committed by an adult, there is a possibility that a prosecutor could seek to have the juvenile tried as an adult. However, this is highly unlikely given the age of the boy and the fact that these attempts by prosecutors are usually reserved for more violent offenses or instances of juveniles with extensive criminal histories.

However, vehicle theft is still a very serious crime. If your child has been charged with vehicle theft, make sure to contact an experience juvenile defense attorney who will look out for their best interests.