SUNBURY - A 16-year-old Shamokin boy charged in an armed robbery of a cell phone in January was adjudicated delinquent Tuesday afternoon by Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest on three criminal charges, including a felony of robbery.
Joel Santiago, of 819 E. Dewart St., who was initially charged as an adult before the case was transferred to juvenile court, admitted to committing felonies of robbery and aggravated assault, and a misdemeanor of possessing instruments of crime during a brief hearing before Wiest.
Being adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court is the equivalent of being found guilty in adult court.
Additional charges of simple assault and loitering and prowling at night were not prosecuted.
Santiago, who was represented by Northumberland County Special Conflicts Counsel John Broda, told the judge he understood the ramifications of his admission to the charges.
The teen, who had been detained at Central Counties Youth Center in Bellefonte after spending time at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury, was remanded to Northwestern Academy in Coal Township to await sentencing May 7.
Santiago, who is originally from Puerto Rico and has lived in the area for two years, hugged and kissed relatives, including his mother, outside the courtroom before being escorted by juvenile probation officers to Northwestern Academy.
Santiago was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II with three felony counts of robbery, a felony of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of crime, and misdemeanors of simple assault and loitering and prowling at night.
Santiago is accused of approaching Daniel McKimm, of 158 N. Eighth St., at about 9:15 p.m. Jan. 6 and telling him he had five seconds to hand over his cell phone while threatening the victim with what appeared to be a handgun.
McKimm, 19, told police he threw his black T-Mobile phone, ran into his home and called police.
A short time later, guns drawn, police took Santiago into custody about six blocks away after they found him lying next to a parked car on Commerce Street between The News-Item and Center City Apartments.
Siko said the weapon allegedly used by Santiago, which was recovered, is a compressed-air pellet gun that is a replica of a semi-automatic handgun.
Santiago also was charged by Siko in connection with vehicle break-ins the same night.
Police said some coins were removed from a Jeep on North Eighth Street owned by Dennis Cavanaugh shortly before Santiago allegedly threatened McKimm with the gun.
Santiago was 15 at the time of the offenses.