A 13-year-old Reserve boy was arrested early Monday after St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies said they recovered a handgun from his pocket. The juvenile was booked on attempted theft of a motor vehicle and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, along with multiple counts tied to property damage and a curfew violation. Investigators say the case is part of a broader probe into a string of vehicle break-ins in Reserve. According to the sheriff’s office, the recovered gun may have been taken during an earlier burglary.
Deputy Confronts Teen Outside Reserve Business
In a post on the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, officials said a deputy responded around 12:35 a.m. to a report of a suspicious person in the 500 block of West 10th Street. The deputy found the teen leaving a business, according to the post. The juvenile told the deputy he had a gun in his pocket, and deputies recovered the handgun at the scene. The boy was then placed under arrest and booked into the juvenile system, the post states.
Detectives Tie Juvenile To Vehicle Break-Ins
The sheriff’s office reported on its website that investigators located a vehicle with a smashed front driver-side window and a damaged steering column and ignition panel, with repair costs estimated at about $2,700. That release also links the juvenile to 11 additional vehicle break-ins and lists the charges he faces, including 12 counts of simple criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, and a juvenile curfew violation. Officials said the investigation is still active as deputies work to identify any other potential victims. LaPlace deputy busts teen previously covered a related arrest in the parish.
What Louisiana Law Says About Juveniles And Handguns
Under Louisiana law it is unlawful for anyone under 18 to knowingly possess a handgun on their person. Penalties range from fines and up to six months in jail for a first conviction to longer possible terms for repeat offenses, with stricter penalties for juveniles who have already been adjudicated for violent crimes. The statute also provides exceptions for supervised range use, hunting, and situations involving parental permission. For the full language, see La. R.S. 14:95.8.
How Residents Can Share Tips With Investigators
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to call its tips line or send information through the department’s website, according to the agency’s Facebook post. Residents who have details about the vehicle break-ins are urged to contact SJSO so investigators can follow up.
