Runaway Teens Steal A Vehicle

Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies with assistance from Flatonia Police apprehended a group of runaway youth in a stolen vehicle on Monday.

According to a report from Sheriff Keith Korenek, deputies responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle parked at a business in the Flatonia area. The deputies arrived at the business, Prototype Machine Co., and determined that the suspicious vehicle was reported stolen from San Antonio. Another vehicle belonging to the business was missing.

“Later in the afternoon an employee of the business called and reported someone driving their stolen vehicle had come back to the business before leaving again,” the Sheriff’s report said. “Lt. David Beyer and Deputy Mark Zimmerman were in the area and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle with the assistance of the Flatonia Police Department.”

Three juveniles and three 17-year-old adults were removed from the vehicle. Investigator Kenn Kretz along with others in the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division contacted state Child Protective Services to identify the suspects.

Investigators determined that all six individuals were wards of the state who had run away from various care facilities.

None of the suspects were from the Whispering Hills facility near Flatonia, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“The subjects were responsible for multiple vehicle thefts in San Antonio and the stolen vehicle in Fayette County,” the Sheriff said. “The three juvenile subjects were detained, processed, and released back to CPS.”

The Sheriff identified the three adult suspects as Leah Martinez of Conroe, Mason Goodwin of Conroe and Miguel Leos of San Antonio, all 17 years old. Leos was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Martinez and Goodwin were each charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

Sheriff Korenek wished to thank the Flatonia Police Department for assisting with the case.