CHARLOTTE — Jonah Oliver, 16, of Charlotte with a history of over 275 charges in less than three months has been arrested and charged as an adult after a series of crimes across North and South Carolina is being held without bond after getting into more trouble, police said.
[ PAST STORY: Over 275 charges filed in NC, SC against single juvenile ]
The teen, who was previously extradited to South Carolina and placed on probation, was involved in a pursuit with Mooresville Police Department in October after breaking into multiple vehicles.
Despite facing 15 charges, including possession of stolen firearms, Oliver was released to their guardian, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. In November, Oliver and another person armed with a gun carjacked a man after the victim pulled out of a Shell gas staion on Statesville Avenue, police said.
The next day, Oliver allegedly shot into a home of a rival gang member on Columbus Circle in west Charlotte’s Ashley Park in neighborhood. Two cars were also hit. No one was hurt.
The Juvenile Accountability and Diversion Empowerment (JADE) Unit, along with Metro Division officers, connected the cases and secured arrest warrants to charge the Oliver as an adult.
A search of Oliver’s home uncovered multiple firearms, including a Glock 27 .40 caliber with a drum magazine and auto-sear conversion device, and other weapons.
Oliver was charged with several serious offenses, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of stolen goods, discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling, felony conspiracy, injury to personal property, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and possession of a handgun by a minor.
Investigators said that Oliver is a person of interest in nearly 100 car break-ins across eight jurisdictions, and additional charges are expected.
‘Very saddening’
“We see the same offenders recommitting,” said CMPD Lt. Allison Suddreth, who is with JADE.
She could not talk specifically about Oliver’s case but said many kids are not being held accountable.
“It is very saddening but again, this takes a village, a team of people to correct this problem,” Suddreth said.
Suddreth, who is also a mother, said she is passionate about the work the JADE Unit does trying hold teens accountable while helping them.
“There’s not an officer who signed up for this, who didn’t want to help the community and that includes juveniles, because they start and we don’t want to see them later on in our career,” Suddreth said.
Something must change to fix the problem, she said.
“We rely heavily on our judges, and so we need stronger detention when applicable for high-risk juvenile offenders,” Suddreth said.
CMPD said juvenile crime is down around 10% this year but it’s the pattern of repeat juvenile offenders, which continues.
Police said many of the crimes harm not just one victim but entire communities, neighborhoods, or households.
VIDEO: Juvenile arrested after vehicle pursuit linked to University City shooting
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