A 12-year-old boy from Washington, D.C., is accused of breaking into several Montgomery County auto dealerships in Bethesda and Rockville during the past weeks, but can’t be arrested because of Maryland laws that prohibit charging children younger than 13 with certain crimes, according to county police officials.
The boy allegedly committed burglaries five times in August and on Monday at several high-end car dealerships, including BMW, Audi, Porsche and Jaguar, police officials told MoCo360 via email. The suspect was apprehended on “multiple occasions,” police said.
Also, between 6:20 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, an “unknown subject” who’s believed to be the same minor entered a business in the 12100 block of Parklawn Drive in Rockville, stole a vehicle and fled the scene, according to police. At roughly 11:30 p.m., the stolen vehicle was found and stopped near University Boulevard and Franklin Avenue in Silver Spring.
The boy was apprehended without incident and returned to the custody of his guardian, according to police. Officials said the age of the child limits the information they can release about the case.
Because of state laws, police have had to navigate the incidents differently than they would have if the suspect was age 13 or older, Acting Assistant Chief David McBain said during a Wednesday press briefing.
In 2022, state lawmakers passed bills that prevent kids younger than age 13 from being subject to juvenile court jurisdiction for delinquency proceedings and from being charged with a crime, except for serious violent crimes such as murder, according to the Associated Press.
In May 2024, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed into law a juvenile law reform package that expanded the jurisdiction of juvenile courts over children ages 10 to 12 who are charged with serious offenses such as sex offenses, gun violations, auto theft and animal cruelty, according to CBS Baltimore. However, that law won’t go into effect until November, according to Maryland Matters.
“We are actually actively working with the D.C. government, the police department and the [state Department of Juvenile Services] in order to coordinate a resolution,” McBain said. “That young individual is in need of some supervision, and I think it’s critical that he gets that.”
McBain said that despite the legislation, police can urge the Department of Juvenile Services to take the child into protective custody.
County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno said the situation has led to some frustration, but the county is communicating with state officials about the matter. Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard said he’s spoken with the Department of Juvenile Services and the State’s Attorney’s office about the boy.
“The people who need to be working on this issue, who can get this young person help, are working on it,” Stoddard said.