2 Teens Arrested For Auto Theft

Nobody wants to get their vehicle stolen, especially when their child is still inside. This was the situation that a Maryland mother faced while at a gas station in Silver Spring. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the auto theft.

The incident happened on the morning of June 16 on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. A woman was at a gas station putting money into an air pump machine when a 15-year-old boy took off with her car. Her 2-year-old daughter was in the back seat at the time.

A witness followed the car to Colesville Road. At that time, the vehicle stopped and another 15-year-old boy got into the vehicle. Then both boys exited the car and fled on foot.

Police officers located the vehicle and found the girl unharmed. They went looking for the two teens. They found two boys who matched the suspects’ descriptions near Fenton Street and Veterans Place. The boys took off and led police on a brief foot chase. They were arrested and charged with auto theft and kidnapping. As they are under the age of 18, they will be tried as juveniles.

What Happens in Juvenile Cases?

If the incident is minor, the juvenile will usually be released with a warning. In some cases, police may detain the child until they are picked up by a parent.

In more serious cases, though, the child is held in police custody and their case goes to juvenile court (rather than adult court). At this point, a probation officer will take over. The officer can dismiss the case, make an informal decision, or file charges. When making a decision, the probation officer will consider factors such as the:

• Juvenile’s age
• Juvenile’s past record
• Juvenile’s social history
• Severity of the offense
• Evidence in the case

If the probation officer opts for informal proceedings, the juvenile will appear before a judge. Although the juvenile will face no criminal charges, they may still have to pay a fine, attend counseling, repay the victim, perform community service, or go on probation.

If the juvenile is formally charged, the case will go on to juvenile court. This leads to one of several situations:

• Plea agreement.

  The juvenile agrees to certain conditions, such as counseling, payment, or curfews.

• The juvenile agrees to counseling, community service, or another action. If not completed, the judge moves forward with formal charges.
• This is like a criminal hearing, in which both sides argue their case by presenting evidence. The judge will evaluate the juvenile and make recommendations for punishment.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Theft charges are serious, even when they are committed by teens. Stealing a vehicle is a dangerous act, and it’s fortunate that the boys didn’t get into an accident and nobody got injured.

Auto theft charges are typically felonies, so it will be interesting to see the punishment the teen will receive. Reduce your charges with help from the Columbia theft lawyers at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. Our team will provide the aggressive representation you need to get a fair outcome. Schedule a consultation by calling (410) 774-5987 or filling out the online form. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

wtop.com/montgomery-county/2021/06/2-teens-arrested-and-charged-with-stealing-car-with-2-year-old-girl-inside/