Thursday's decision to hold four teens behind bars without bail after being charged as adults for trying to escape from Decker Lake Youth Facility left Jim Turner almost speechless.
"Can't say much right now, but it's a crock," the West Valley man said moments after learning his stepson, Billy Rohwedder, 16, will remain at the Salt Lake County Jail.Taylor's sentiment was echoed by defense attorneys at Thursday's bail hearing for Rohwedder, Joshua Cornwell, 16, Travis Hards, 17, and David Pantelakis, 17.
Children charged as adults should be treated as adults, said defender Michael A. Peterson.
"We'd like to see bail set at $15,000, a common amount for three third-degree felonies," Peterson told 3rd Circuit Judge Patrick Casey, adding a higher bond would be unreasonable and unconstitutional.
Enter Neal Gunnarson.
The Salt Lake County district attorney reminded the court that the teens are the first to be charged under the "serious youth offender" law that allows prosecutors to charge children as adults if they commit felonies in youth prisons. Releasing the boys on bail after they've already tried to escape from a secured facility, Gunnarson argued, sends a dangerous message to other young offenders.
"Every (locked-up) juvenile will say, `Hot-diggity dog, all we have to do is commit a crime and we're out on bail . . . I think if one of these kids gets out, it's `Adios,' " he said.
If bail is granted, make it $250,000 to ensure the kids show up for trial, Gunnarson asked.
A review of the foursome's juvenile crime records swayed Casey's decision to deny bail.
"(Their) attempted escape from custody and assault committed in the context of the escape indicates substantial risk of flight and risk to the community," Casey said.
Rohwedder, Cornwell, Hards and Pantelakis will appear Thursday before Judge Frances Palacios for a scheduling hearing.
The boys are charged with breaking out of their rooms and assaulting two counselors on July 5 before trashing a living area and trying to scale an outside confinement fence.