SAN ANTONIO — With his wrists and ankles in chains, a teen accused of cutting off his court ordered GPS monitor and going on a crime spree appeared before a juvenile judge Wednesday morning.
The 15-year-old had to answer to a number of charges in three Texas counties that will keep him locked up for now.
Twisting and fidgeting nervously in his seat, the teen waited for his turn before Judge Jackie Valdes in the 386th District Court.
No stranger to court proceedings, prosecutors said the youngster has been to court before.
Representing the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department, Cecilio Colunga told the judge "He is currently detained on a juvenile warrant that was issued after he cut off the monitor back on January 17."
"He has been on probation since July 2023 for one count of robbery and he recently returned to court on January 4 for a new charge of evading arrest that happened in November," added Colunga.
The judge heard a summary of recent troubles that included problems with school attendance and drug use.
At a news briefing Tuesday, Sheriff Javier Salazar released video of the teen taunting law enforcement to catch him and court personnel told the judge the teen is accused of a three county crime spree.
Salazar said news of the teen's capture may lead to additional charges.
"People are saying 'Hey I live in Travis County. I live in Williamson County. This happened. It may be this guy.' So I wouldn't be surprised if other cases come from it," Salazar said.
Colunga said the teen "...was a suspect for two aggravated robberies in Round Rock and there was also an aggravated robbery in Travis County and an aggravated kidnapping that he is a suspect of."
The prosecutor said the teen poses a threat, telling the judge "We believe he is a danger to the community if he were to be released."
Emotionally, the teen's mom said though she loves her son, she believes he should remain in custody for now, so the judge ordered him detained.
The teen will be back in court ten days from now for his next detention hearing.