The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents in the Port Salerno area about criminal activity involving a 13-year-old boy, who keeps getting released after short juvenile detentions.And Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said there’s not much they can do about him constantly getting out of detention despite 11 felonies.”It’s extremely frustrating,” Budensiek said at a news conference Wednesday. “Our job is to keep everybody safe, including him. He is unraveling. He would be safer right now at DYS (Florida Department of Juvenile Justice).”During the past six months, he has been processed on three separate occasions and released shortly after each arrest from the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce.From Oct. 29 to Nov. 24, there have been six victims of his crime spree, the sheriff’s office said.The minor was arrested on three counts of grand theft auto, four burglaries, one count of possession of burglary tools, and three criminal mischief charges.Crimes involved breaking into vehicles, destroying steering columns and rolling the vehicles into nearby areas. Also, three golf carts were stolen and damaged, along with an additional burglary and property damage.He was finally caught because he was found stealing the golf carts, the sheriff’s office said.Why isn’t he being held more than a few hours?”He’s got to commit more crimes,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said at a news conference Wednesday. Budensiek said the youth hasn’t scored high for detention. And because they are not violent crimes, he unlikely will be charged as an adult with the sheriff, though “hopefully the courts will have a place to get him on track.”Detectives with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant Monday at his residence, where stolen property connected to these crimes was recovered. He was released and was back in the Salerno area with his mother.And Tuesday night, he was placed on a Backer Act hold after threatening to shoot people. For minors, it is up to 12 hours.“This 13-year-old individual, who had been arrested at least two times by our deputies before for fleeing and eluding once and stealing his mom’s car,” Budensiek said. “But unfortunately, each time mom came in dropped the charges, and this kid was right back on the streets.”Budensiek said he “has rough living conditions. He has been unraveling since his dad was deported. Because he has not committed six burglaries, he was released immediately after intake.”The agency posted on Facebook: The Sheriff’s Office is doing everything legally permitted to address this ongoing situation.”Anyone who observes suspicious activity or believes they may have been victimized is encouraged to contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office immediately.Under the law, authorities can only hold a minor for up to 21 days before being charged, including as an adult.Florida statute allows for the sheriff’s office to release the identity of a minor who committed felony crimes. But WPBF is not naming him because he hasn’t been charged as an adult.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents in the Port Salerno area about criminal activity involving a 13-year-old boy, who keeps getting released after short juvenile detentions.
And Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said there’s not much they can do about him constantly getting out of detention despite 11 felonies.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” Budensiek said at a news conference Wednesday. “Our job is to keep everybody safe, including him. He is unraveling. He would be safer right now at DYS (Florida Department of Juvenile Justice).”
During the past six months, he has been processed on three separate occasions and released shortly after each arrest from the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce.
From Oct. 29 to Nov. 24, there have been six victims of his crime spree, the sheriff’s office said.
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Port Salerno area in Martin County
The minor was arrested on three counts of grand theft auto, four burglaries, one count of possession of burglary tools, and three criminal mischief charges.
Crimes involved breaking into vehicles, destroying steering columns and rolling the vehicles into nearby areas. Also, three golf carts were stolen and damaged, along with an additional burglary and property damage.
He was finally caught because he was found stealing the golf carts, the sheriff’s office said.
Why isn’t he being held more than a few hours?
“He’s got to commit more crimes,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said at a news conference Wednesday.
Budensiek said the youth hasn’t scored high for detention. And because they are not violent crimes, he unlikely will be charged as an adult with the sheriff, though “hopefully the courts will have a place to get him on track.”
Detectives with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant Monday at his residence, where stolen property connected to these crimes was recovered.
He was released and was back in the Salerno area with his mother.
And Tuesday night, he was placed on a Backer Act hold after threatening to shoot people. For minors, it is up to 12 hours.
“This 13-year-old individual, who had been arrested at least two times by our deputies before for fleeing and eluding once and stealing his mom’s car,” Budensiek said. “But unfortunately, each time mom came in dropped the charges, and this kid was right back on the streets.”
Budensiek said he “has rough living conditions. He has been unraveling since his dad was deported. Because he has not committed six burglaries, he was released immediately after intake.”
The agency posted on Facebook: The Sheriff’s Office is doing everything legally permitted to address this ongoing situation.”
Anyone who observes suspicious activity or believes they may have been victimized is encouraged to contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
Under the law, authorities can only hold a minor for up to 21 days before being charged, including as an adult.
Florida statute allows for the sheriff’s office to release the identity of a minor who committed felony crimes. But WPBF is not naming him because he hasn’t been charged as an adult.