Amid rising apprehension over juvenile crime, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is pursuing felony charges against two teenagers accused of destroying the entryway of a Mesa home with an explosive device.
“We understand that these are young individuals, but the job of the County Attorney's Office is to uphold the law and to keep people accountable for their actions in order for the community to feel safe,” said Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesperson Karla Navarrete, adding that despite their age, it’s important to hold the teens accountable.
The recently indicted 18- and 19-year-old defendants face multiple felony charges related to explosives and criminal damage.
“We've seen a lot of recent crimes as far as juveniles and young adults are concerned, particularly in the East Valley,” said Navarrete. “So this is one of those many that we’ve seen in recent months.”
Navarrete said that as a parent to teenage boys, she empathizes with the challenges they face.
“Regardless of your age, these acts are destructive,” she said. “They're potentially deadly for those who are near or could cause grave injury, and they're not going to be tolerated.”