Three Teens Steal and Crash Maserati with Keys Left Inside

October 5, 2022 Don Pumphrey, Jr. Criminal Defense, Juvenile Offenses, News & Announcements Social Share

A deadly crash in St. Petersburg was the outcome of three teenagers stealing a sliver Maserati over the weekend. The Pinellas County deputies saw the entire crash unfold after a chopper was investigating another crime.

We will provide details on the case, along with information on grand theft charges and representing a juvenile in Florida.

What was the Incident?

Early Sunday morning on October 2^nd, 2022, three young teens found an unlocked Maserati with the keys still inside in a St. Petersburg driveway. According to the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office, three boys—Keondrick Lang, 15, Mario Bonilla, 15, and Malachi Daniels, 16—were in a neighborhood on 29^th Street N and 58^th Avenue N and checking for unlocked cars. Lang was using his t-shirt to pull the door handle and to avoid leaving any fingerprints on the car.

Lang managed to open an unlocked Maserati door, which still had the keys left inside. The three teens jumped in the luxury vehicle. At the same time, a police helicopter had been sent out in the same area for another crime—a burglary—in which the deputies were taking the suspect into custody. 

The chopper did notice the three teens in the Maserati and notified police on the ground of the possible theft-in-progress. When the police car started to near the Maserati, the teens took off with Lang driving, Bonilla in the passenger seat, and Daniels in the back seat.

Lang sped off as if they were being chased by the police. However, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has the policy to refrain from engaging in a speed chase on the roadway. The helicopter that had been searching for the burglary suspects managed to track the stolen Maserati’s movements up until it crashed.

The stolen vehicle wrecked into the side of a building on 62^nd Ave. N, across from a Winn-Dixie. The car completely flipped over in the parking lot. Bonilla died on impact from the crash, and the two other teens were rushed to the hospital. Daniels is in critical condition, and Lang is expected to survive.

The owner of the Maserati was notified of the crash, and no arrests have yet to be made.

Grand Theft Auto in Florida

In the state of Florida, grand theft is considered when an item or property belonging to someone else is taken from them, and is valued over $750. Florida Statute Section 320.01 defines a motor vehicle as the following:

• An automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle, semitrailer, tractor, or any other vehicle operated on the roads of the state and used to transport people or property, and is propelled by power other than man-power.

If the stolen vehicle is valued between $750 and $20,000, then it is considered grand theft in the third-degree and a third-degree felony. If the stolen vehicle is valued between $20,000 and $100,000, it is considered grand theft in the second-degree and a second-degree felony. If the stolen vehicle is valued at $100,000 or more, than it is considered grand theft in the first-degree and a first-degree felony.

To read more about grand theft auto charges and its potential defenses, find our page here.

Representing Minors in Florida

If a criminal defendant is under the age of 18, there are an entirely separate set of rules for a legal violation. Typically minors are handled by the juvenile system, but in more extreme cases even young teens can be tried as adults. If convicted, that means they could serve a prison sentence in an adult prison rather than a juvenile detention center.

For this reason, it is extremely important for teens accused of a crime to seek out a juvenile defense attorney. Whether it is a teen’s first-time offense or if they are a recurring offender getting charged as an adult, it is highly important to receive legal help from a skilled attorney.

You can read more about juvenile crimes and potential penalties on our website here.

Finding a Defense Attorney in Tallahassee, Florida

Getting accused of a crime as a teenager can be extremely stressful and scary. That’s why it is of the utmost importance to seek out the advice of a skilled defense attorney in your area. An experienced defense attorney can help build a strong defense for your case, and stand by your side throughout the entire legal process. Don Pumphrey and his team at Pumphrey Law Firm have represented juvenile clients across the state, and vow to stand in your corner and fight for your future. Call us today at (850) 681-7777 or leave us an online message on our website.

Written by Karissa Key

  Social Share