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Teen has chance to keep crashed trucks off record

SAMUEL BURGESS

IRON MOUNTAIN — An Iron Mountain teen who crashed two stolen pickup trucks with a co-defendant in Iron Mountain last year was sentenced Monday under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows him to keep a felony conviction off his record if he completes 18 months of probation.

Dickinson County Circuit Court Judge Richard Celello gave 17-year-old Samuel Cade Burgess credit for 59 days already served in the Dickinson County Jail and agreed to suspend the remainder of his three-month sentence as long as he has no probation violations.

Burgess also is responsible, along with 18-year-old Lucus James Schoen of Kingsford, for paying $12,918.69 in restitution.

Burgess previously pleaded no contest in circuit court to felony unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle, as well as misdemeanor operating while impaired in district court.

Burgess reportedly told Iron Mountain police officers he had been drinking alcohol when he stole a truck on the city’s north side Sept. 18, according to the criminal complaint and an IMPD press release.

Schoen admitted he assisted Burgess in the theft, the complaint states.

Officers believe Burgess and Schoen used this vehicle to damage grass near the Northside Baseball Field and then hit a Jeep parked on Pewabic Street.

The pair then stole a second pickup truck from the north side and crashed it into a utility pole at West Hughitt Street and Harding Avenue, according to the release.

Burgess and Schoen fled the accident site, and officers were able to apprehend Burgess a short time later. Officers did not immediately arrest Schoen.

Burgess, the driver, registered a .251 blood-alcohol content on a preliminary breath test, according to the criminal complaint.

At sentencing, defense attorney Julie LaCost told the court Burgess has shown remorse and taken responsibility for his actions by attending treatment, then revoking his bond so he could serve his jail time before sentencing.

A senior at Iron Mountain High School, Burgess plans to graduate in May and forego college for a year to work full-time to pay his restitution and court costs, LaCost said.

“I would like to deeply apologize to everyone involved in the situation and the owners of the trucks,” Burgess told the court. “I also want to apologize to the community of Iron Mountain for the damage I’ve caused.”

Although she noted this was Burgess’ first criminal conviction of any kind, Dickinson County Prosecutor Lisa Richards was troubled he registered such a high blood-alcohol content at such a young age.

Richards hoped this incident would serve as a wake-up call to Burgess, and said he was fortunate no one was hurt.

Celello echoed Richards’ concerns about Burgess’ blood-alcohol content, which he believed indicated regular drinking. However, the judge commended Burgess for seeking treatment and keeping up his school grades.

Schoen was sentenced earlier this year to four months in jail under the HYTA.

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