Still in custody

What happens now with the “problem boy”

The now 15-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison at the end of 2023. He was conditionally released last November.(Bild: Horst Einöder, Krone KREATIV)

The case made headlines last week: The now 15-year-old Upper Austrian, who already had more than 200 criminal offenses on his record before his 14th birthday and had already been sentenced to prison once, is "serving time" again. This is what is happening to him now.

The teenager was arrested on February 10 for allegedly stealing an unlocked BMW together with an accomplice (16) in Styria and taking it on an hour-long joyride. Since then he has been in custody in Leoben. But not for long, as the young serial offender will now be transferred to Linz prison.

Jurisdiction according to place of residence
Melanie Kurz, spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Steyr, explains the reason for this: "In juvenile criminal law up to the age of 18, jurisdiction is based on the place of residence" - and in the case of the 15-year-old, this is in the jurisdiction of the Steyr prosecution authority.

The latter has officially taken over the investigation into aggravated theft. They are investigating the 15-year-old and an accomplice, who is still at large. The serial offender, on the other hand, must pursue the investigation due to his previous conviction from custody, because: "There is a risk of the accused committing the crime," says Kurz.