Maryland teen charged as adult in suspected theft crime

Law enforcement officials recently arrested a 16-year-old boy near his home in Belcamp on theft charges. Pollice suspect the teen of committing theft at gun point based on an investigation conducted in partnership with local school and gang resource officers.

Reports indicate that a Maryland man responded to a Craigslist posting to purchase a cell phone. After agreeing to meet the seller at a late hour, the man allegedly met up with the teen. At this point, the teen apparently pulled out a firearm and demanded that the buyer give up his money and other personal belongings.

Since the arrest, the young man was brought to a local detention facility and was held on $150,000 bail. Law enforcement officials have also made the decision to charge the teen as an adult even thought he has not yet reached the age of majority. By facing these armed robbery charges as an adult, the potential consequences are likely much more stringent.

As this case moves ahead, more details will likely emerge. At this time, most of the information about the case is based on information provided by Maryland police, which is typically skewed heavily against the accused person. As such, it will be critical to ensure the details of the case are closely investigated. For example, it may be helpful to figure out how school resource and gang task force officers came to the conclusion that this teenager was involved in a theft crime.

The suspect in this case has many years ahead of him. Charges this serious are likely to post a long-term impact if he’s found guilty. As such, his criminal defense should aim to achieve the most positive outcome possible.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Belcamp teen charged as adult in Craigslist robbery,” April 25, 2013