16-year-old charged as adult for carjacking, assault of elderly woman in Baltimore
BALTIMORE -- A 16-year-old is being charged as an adult with robbery for allegedly assaulting an 83-year-old woman and stealing her car in Northwest Baltimore.
Police said the elderly woman was gathering her groceries Monday afternoon when two male suspects threw her to the ground and took off with her car in the 6700 block of Park Heights Avenue.
The woman sustained minor injuries to her forearms and knees. Medics treated her injuries at the scene.
Police later found the woman's car and the 16-year-old driver less than two miles away on Rosalind Avenue. The teen is facing charges of robbery, assault and carjacking.
"It just bothers me a lot," said Laura, who has lived in the neighborhood for two decades.
Prior criminal history
The teenager was initially processed and charged as a minor at the Juvenile Justice Center. However, after reviewing the teen's criminal history, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office chose to charge him as an adult.
The 16-year-old has a history of arrests for assault, larceny, auto theft and robbery across various districts in Baltimore.
"We are definitely standing on business with young people," said State's Attorney Ivan Bates. "I mean look, the young people are our future, but we also have to respect the older adults who have paved the path so we can stand on their shoulders."
New Juvenile Justice Reform laws
New Juvenile Justice Reform laws make it possible for the State's Attorney's Office to review cases against young people who are under the Department of Juvenile Services' supervision.
"Not everybody likes looking at potential jail time for 16-year-olds, I understand that," Bates said. "However, we must protect the community, and this young person and other young people. Hopefully, this will be a deterrent for other young people to decide they cannot do these kinds of actions."
"Here to hold you accountable"
Bates says the focus needs to shift so that minors get the help they need the first time before the crimes and the consequences get worse.
"Because by the time you get there, unfortunately, we are not here for rehabilitation, we are here to hold you accountable, and accountability, unfortunately, in the adult system when you do carjackings is prison," Bates said.
