3 Toledo teens plead guilty in truck theft

12/28/2001

Three Toledo teenagers pleaded guilty this week in Lucas County Juvenile Court for their role in stealing an Ottawa Hills service pickup truck this month and wrecking it twice.

A 16-year-old remains in the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center after pleading guilty to two counts of grand theft auto, three counts of attempted grand theft auto, and two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for the Ottawa Hills theft and unrelated cases. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 18, a court official said.

A 14-year-old accomplice pleaded guilty to grand theft auto and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He was ordered to perform 20 hours of public service, pay restitution, not associate with the co-defendants, and write a letter of apology.

A 15-year-old pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and will be put on probation; the teen was ordered to pay restitution.

Police gave this account of the thefts:

On Dec. 3, the 16-year-old and the 14-year-old took a 1999 Ford F150 from the rear of the village's service building after finding keys in the vehicle.

The 16-year-old parked the vehicle over night and drove the truck the next day and picked up two teenage girls on Dec. 4.

He crashed into another vehicle about 8 a.m. near 340 Reynolds Road. He fled and dropped the girls off at a house before picking up his 14-year-old and 15-year-old accomplices.

The 15-year-old started driving and crashed into a tree about noon near 435 Clifton Rd. The boys fled.

The truck was totaled, and the 14-year-old broke his right arm in the crash.

The two girls, who attend Rogers High School along with the boys, face misdemeanor charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.