HB 159 -- TAMPERING WITH A VEHICLE WHILE ARMED

SPONSOR: Sparks

This bill requires a juvenile court to order a hearing to determine whether to certify a juvenile as an adult if a petition alleges that a child between the ages of 12 and 18 has committed the offense of tampering in the second degree if the property involves a motor vehicle and the child is in possession of a firearm during the commission of the offense.

The bill also modifies the offense of tampering in the second degree to specify that the offense is a class E felony when a defendant tampers with the motor vehicle of another for the purpose of causing substantial inconvenience to that person and the defendant was in possession of a firearm during the commission of the offense. A defendant subject to the penalties under these provisions will not be granted parole or probation until he or she has served at least one year imprisonment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (0286H.01): 211.071, 569.090