Teen charged in escape will stay in juvenile system

Kim Smith

Thursday, June 15, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

The second of two teenagers accused of breaking out of the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center in March will not face justice in the adult system.

Family Court Judge Robert Gaston said he is uncomfortable with sending a 15-year-old boy to District Court where he might wind up convicted and sent to an adult prison, Deputy District Attorney Frank Ponticello said.

Ponticello argued the boy should be handled in the adult system because of the boy's past criminal history and the severity of the crimes he is alleged to have committed.

According to officials, the jail break occurred on March 26, two days before the boy, then 14, was scheduled to be sentenced on a parole violation.

The boy reportedly overpowered a correctional officer during the dinner hour, knocked her radio away and gave her a beating so severe it broke her cheek bone and caused facial nerve damage. She faces multiple reconstructive surgeries.

The teen then allegedly unlocked an older boy's cell and they fled the correctional center together, later hopping a bus.

Ponticello believes the boys then stole a pickup, drove to the Valley Auto Mall and stole a BMW. Two days later, a police officer spotted the stolen BMW and began chasing it.

The younger boy took off in the BMW after the older boy ran into an apartment complex and forced his way into an apartment after pointing a BB gun at two young children's heads.

The older boy, who was 17, was arrested after a maintenance man was able to get the children away from him.

Ponticello said the younger teen, however, went on to steal at least one more car before being arrested and charged with escape, causing serious bodily injury, battery, first-degree kidnapping, robbery, three counts of grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand larceny and burglary.

Ponticello said he was disappointed in Gaston's decision because he doesn't believe the juvenile system is able to handle violent, repeat offenders.

"Unfortunately, there are plenty of 14-year-olds that are so out of the boundaries of the juvenile system that they have to be placed in the adult system," Ponticello said.

The boy is expected to admit or deny the charges at what is called a plea hearing on June 20.

The maximum sentence the boy could face is six to nine months in a youth camp, Ponticello said.

Gaston last week also declined to send the older boy into the adult system. He sentenced him to the Summit View Youth Correctional Center, where he will undergo drug and other counseling programs.