Juveniles arrested for burglary, theft

By Staff, 05/1/17 12:35 PM

HOPE – Two Hope boys, ages 10 and 12, were arrested and charged with burglary and theft of property.

According to a release from the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the call came in shortly after 6 a.m. Monday concerning the possible theft of a side-by-side from a residence on Hempstead 142.

The responding deputy met with a woman who said she’d woke up before 5 a.m. and heard the vehicle leaving her driveway, and heard her 10-year-old son’s voice coming from the side-by-side.

She reportedly said around 5:45 a.m. her son and a 123-year-old boy walked up to her house carrying guns in each hand. When asked what they did, her son allegedly said he wasn’t going to court and was running away. The boys reportedly left with the guns and walked down Hempstead 142.

While searching for the boys, the deputy found an orange RTV stuck in the ditch on Hempstead 133. He tracked the RTV back to Hempstead 3, where he checked the residence and noted a broken window on the west side of the house. He entered the house through an unlocked door and saw an empty gun cabinet in the master bedroom. He also saw three multi-tools and an empty box of .12-guage shells.

The deputy met with Wayne Abbot, the homeowner, telling him the house had been broken into. The deputy informed Abbot there appeared to be guns missing, and the RTV had been recovered. While talking to Abbot, the deputy was notified the 10-year-old’s mother had called to say the boys were back at her house with the guns.

The deputy returned to her house and met with the boy’s mother, asking where the boys were. She reportedly said they were in her bedroom, but would be coming onto the front porch. When the two left the house, they were taken into custody. Three shotguns and a .22 rifle were recovered and returned to their owner.

The boys were taken to the HCSO and were turned over to juvenile authorities.