Police have nabbed a 10th teen believed to be involved in a string of armed robberies in the Salt Lake Valley.
Officers arrested a 15-year-old boy Wednesday at the Genesis Work Program, according to West Valley City police detective Kevin Nudd. The boy was staying at Genesis, a work program for young offenders, for a parole violation.He was transferred to the Salt Lake Detention Center, where the other robbery suspects are being held.
The boy is a suspect in the July 22 holdup at Radio Shack (4580 S. 4000 West), said Nudd.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have charged nine Granger High School students with felonies in connection with about 20 holdups at Salt Lake County restaurants.
Two of the teens are only 15 years old, and officials refuse to release any information on the status of the charges against them. Sources in juvenile court say one of the boys pleaded guilty Tuesday, while prosecutors have filed a motion to certify the second youth as an adult.
George E. Maile, 17; Finau L. Manatau, 16; Manu M. Tahi, 17; Daniel Despain, 16; Ozie Lightner, 17; Edgar A. Romero, 17,; and Stuart A. Adams, 16, each face at least one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.
Despain faces 18 counts and Tahi is charged with seven counts.
All of the boys will appear in juvenile court during the first and second weeks of November. The hearings will determine whether the teens should remain in lockup while their cases proceed through court.
Prosecutors also want to transfer most of the cases to adult court, where the boys could face time behind bars at the Utah State Prison if convicted.