Juvenile Arrested for Vehicle Theft and Failure to Stop
In what seems to have been a collaborate effort, a man and teen were arrested Thursday, Oct. 23. The man was arrested for vehicle theft, and the teen will most likely be charged with vehicle theft and failure to stop at the command of a law officer.
Now It’s Your Turn
According to a report from KSL News, the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle theft on Thursday morning. According to the report, after driving to work, the owner of a white Cadillac Escalade noticed a Ford pickup (which also turned out to be stolen) pull up next his Cadillac and a teen exit the unfamiliar vehicle. Next thing the owner of the Escalade knew, the teen got into the vehicle and drove away.
The owner of the Escalade called the police, and aided by the accounts of witnesses who saw the vehicles heading south on I-15, police gave chase with the assistance of the Utah Highway Patrol. Law enforcement lost track of the Ford but were able to find the Escalade. However, the juvenile refused to stop, and it took UHP troopers two attempts at spiking the road before the Escalade’s tires were deflated near Parowan. The juvenile was taken to the Iron County Detention Center.
In what didn’t seem like the smartest move, the driver of the Ford pickup truck passed the officers on his way south on I-15. He was arrested and booked into the Beaver County Correctional Facility on charges of vehicle theft.
Potential Adult Charges for Vehicle Theft
In most situations, juveniles charged with a crime will be sentenced in juvenile court, although sometimes the prosecution may attempt to have the juvenile charged as an adult. One of the factors considered in making this decision is whether the juvenile has an extensive criminal background, something which is currently unknown about the juvenile in question. Charges of murder or aggravated murder are also usually sufficient to bring about adult charges but obviously aren’t an issue here.
The factor that may contribute to the juvenile being charged as an adult is the fact that he committed a crime that would be considered a felony if committed by an adult. While failure to stop at the command of a law officer is only a class A misdemeanor (still the most serious of misdemeanor offenses), vehicle theft is considered a second degree felony according to Utah law.
Only time will tell what will happen with this juvenile. However, if your child has been charged with vehicle theft or any other crime, even if there is no threat of them being tried as adult, don’t let time be your enemy. Contact an experienced, sympathetic juvenile defense attorney who will start working on your child’s case immediately.
