CHARLOTTE — House Bill 834, which allows law enforcement to charge 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds as adults for high-level felonies, has led to significant legal actions against a juvenile suspect in multiple serious crimes.
On Friday, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department announced that a juvenile, who was previously listed as a suspect in 35 cases, has been charged with 72 offenses, including armed robbery, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, and possession of a stolen firearm.
These charges are part of a broader effort by police to deter juveniles from engaging in dangerous behavior.
Due to the provisions of HB 834, the juvenile is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bond in a neighboring county. This bond is associated with charges of first-degree attempted murder and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.
The implementation of HB 834 appears to be impacting how juvenile crime is addressed, as evidenced by the serious charges and high bond set in this recent case. The CMPD’s actions reflect a commitment to curbing juvenile involvement in high-level felonies.
Darryl Sturdivant and his wife Robin founded Team Up Connections five years ago. They said many of the youth in their program are referred by the courts.
“Yes, we don’t like to say high-risk kids, but they are high-risk youth that we have in our program,” said Darryl Sturdivant.
While the Sturdivants believe repeat offenders must be held accountable, they said it is important not to give up on them.
“It’s a 52-week program, and these kids see something they have never seen before,” said Robin Sturdivant. “That’s why we are so big on bringing kids out to our space; one thing is they don’t control our space, and it teaches them I can adjust my thinking.”
Darryl Sturdivant is a retired CMPD school resources officer and former marine. He told Channel 9 that around 500 kids have graduated from his program, and very few go back to a life of crime.
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