Boy will turn 12 in a jail cell

The oft-arrested youth, who turns 12 today, was caught in a stolen car containing a 9mm pistol.

By JOE HUMPHREY

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 23, 2000

TAMPA -- A Tampa youth with a rap sheet longer than his 4-foot, 6-inch frame will spend his 12th birthday in jail today, accused of stealing a car Thursday with three friends.

The youth, who is not being named by the Times because of his age, was arrested at 6:30 a.m. Thursday in a McDonald's parking lot at 920 E Fowler Ave.

He and a 14-year-old boy were sleeping in the back seat as two other boys, both 15, ditched their breakfast plans and ran after sighting a deputy.

According to Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter, the juveniles pulled into the McDonald's and the two 15-year-olds went inside. A deputy, waiting at the drive-through, said the boys appeared scared and he decided to check the Accord.

The car was reported stolen, and the deputy arrested the two sleeping boys. The 15-year-olds were found quickly in a parking garage at University Mall, about a mile away.

Officials said a 9mm pistol was found in the car.

All four were charged with stealing the car, possession of burglary tools and using a firearm while committing a felony. They were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and were held without bail.

It's a familiar routine for the youngest of the four boys.

A report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reveals a criminal history dating back to August 1997, when he was arrested for petty theft at age 9. A month later, he was charged with burglary and grand theft. A year later he was charged with stealing a car.

The 51/2-page FDLE report lists 15 arrests, and deputies said they know of other car thefts and burglaries not listed on the state report.

Sheriff's Sgt. Fred Asteasuainzarra said when juveniles have a record, it's often long.

"They go through the system and back out with no punishment or, if there is punishment, it's very minimal punishment," he said.

But Asteasuainzarra, who leads the sheriff's property crimes division in the area near the University of South Florida, said the length of this record was startling.

The boy was not driving the car Thursday, but deputies said he was a willing participant in the theft of a 1994 Honda Accord.

The case is reminiscent of Walter "J.J." Revear, who was arrested for stealing cars and other charges when he was 12. Revear, now 17, was sentenced last month to six years in prison for violating probation.

Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old girl from Sulphur Springs was arrested for stealing a car and leading police on a brief chase. Her three passengers were 14.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Contact Joe Humphrey at 226-3403 or humphrey@sptimes.com.

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