ST. GEORGE – A Santa Clara woman and an Ivins man were arrested Monday and are facing felony criminal mischief charges for allegedly cutting the brake and fuel lines, and pouring sugar into the gas tank of a man’s car.
At around 7 a.m., officers responded to a criminal mischief report in the area of 100 North and 1300 West in St. George where it was reported that a man’s car had been seriously damaged, according to probable cause statements written by St. George Police Officer Colby Carter in support of the arrests.
During the investigation, it was determined that 20-year-old Lauren Mikaela Porter conspired with her cousin, 21-year-old Robbe Jep Porter, to pour sugar into the gas tank of the man’s car, according to the statement of probable cause.
“Lauren admitted to opening the car door to pop open the gas lid and then proceeded to pour sugar into the tank,” Carter wrote. “She also said she watched as Robbe cut the lines to the fuel and brakes.”
“(Robbe) admitted to cutting the brake and fuel lines while his cousin poured sugar in the car,” Carter wrote in the statement. “Robbe also said they discussed what they should do to damage the car belonging to (the man).”
Lauren Porter and Robbe Porter were arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The two were both charged with a third-degree felony for criminal mischief. Lauren Porter was charged with an additional class A misdemeanor for vehicle burglary.
No matter the motive, it’s important to note the consequences that come with the actions if convicted:
According to Utah Code 76-6-106 – Criminal mischief, a person commits criminal mischief if the person intentionally damages, defaces or destroys the property of another. A violation of this section is a third-degree felony if the actor’s conduct causes or is intended to cause pecuniary loss equal to or in excess of $1,500 but is less than $5,000 in value.
Felonies are more significant crimes than misdemeanors. Possible penalties for a third-degree felony include serving up to five years in a Utah State Prison and steeper fines of up to $5,000.
Lauren Porter was released from custody on $7,290 bail and is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on July 6.
Robbe Porter was released from custody on $5,340 bail and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on July 7.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Wow, they better have a really, really good reason for committing this crime or I’m putting them in the scum bag category. I hope we get to hear the story that motivated this crime.
Very curious to hear what a “really, really good reason” for doing this would be in your book.
Maybe the victim raped the female perp, murdered a relative, or abused one of the perps’ children? Not a good reason, I suppose, but an understandable reason.
Um, if you cut the fuel line, then it does the whole sugar in the gas tank thing no good. Vandalism 101.
Stupid is as stupid does…
I bet the Porter family is just “so” proud…
I’ve seen that girl in the bookings before. She’s just chock-full of poor choices.
Cutting the brake lines? Where I’m from we call that “attempted murder”. Cutting the fuel lines doesn’t change that, either. If the car was carbureted there would still be enough gas in the float bowl to get to sufficient speed to cause fatalities (including people outside the car) without brakes.
you and ur ‘float bowls’ ahaha