Two 15-year-old teens from North Dakota are now in custody and facing several serious criminal charges after an alleged crime spree that spanned hundreds of miles and two different states.
The boys are accused of stealing a car in Fargo, North Dakota. According to police, they then drove south into Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they are accused of robbing a convenience store and stealing a second car at gunpoint. Additionally, the boys are being linked to an apartment robbery in which a 12-year-old girl reported that two men knocked on her door, brandished a gun, and stole her cellphone.
Immediately before they were arrested, the boys reportedly pointed their gun at a police officer. They then tried to run away, but their attempt was unsuccessful and police caught them. Eventually, it was discovered that the gun was a BB gun. But if the young boys did, in fact, point it at a police officer, they may want to count themselves lucky that they were not injured by responding officers. However, there is no doubt that these boys still have a long road ahead of them.
Juvenile crimes of any type can result in serious consequences. Children who may not have yet formed a complete understanding of the repercussions of their actions can ruin their lives or at least negatively impact their opportunities in the future if they are arrested for criminal misconduct.
Depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the crime committed, teens can be facing some very serious penalties. They may be charged as adults or have their criminal record permanently stained with a conviction. In this case, the situation may be exacerbated by the fact that the teens could be facing charges in two different states.
Whenever a child is charged with a crime, it is important that he or she has a competent and experienced criminal defense attorney to guide the way through the criminal justice system. With legal support and an effective defense, a young person may be able to avoid paying for a youthful mistake for the rest of his or her life.
Source: Rapid City Journal, “Teens arrested after crime spree in the Dakotas,” May 15, 2014
