BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said Maryland law prevents his office from charging a 12-year-old accused of driving a stolen car that struck and killed 69-year-old motorcyclist Barry Wright Sr. in Northwest Baltimore.
Bates said at a Thursday news conference that the crash, which happened just over a week ago, would normally fit an involuntary manslaughter case. But he said the legislature excluded that charge from the offenses available against juveniles under 13.
He described the restriction as one that leaves prosecutors with no path to hold the child criminally accountable in this case.
Bates says involuntary manslaughter would normally fit the crash
Bates argued that the facts of the collision would usually support a serious charge. He said the deadly outcome, combined with the circumstances of a stolen vehicle, makes the case look like involuntary manslaughter under ordinary charging decisions.
But he said the state’s juvenile law draws a hard line at age 13. According to Bates, that cutoff keeps prosecutors from filing the charge he believes would otherwise apply.
He said the case has left him deeply frustrated. During the briefing, he said he keeps “knocking my head against the wall,” and said no one is listening to his warning about the limits created by the law.
Juvenile Services was already monitoring the child
Bates said the 12-year-old was being monitored by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services at the time of the crash. He did not describe the reason for that monitoring, but he said the oversight was already in place before the fatal collision.
The state’s attorney said the case shows the consequences of a system that can track a young child but still leave prosecutors unable to use the charges they believe match the conduct.
He said another person has now lost a life because of the actions of a juvenile, underscoring his concern that existing law does not give prosecutors enough tools in situations like this one.
The victim was a 69-year-old motorcyclist in Northwest Baltimore
The crash killed Barry Wright Sr., whom Bates identified as a 69-year-old motorcyclist. The collision happened in Northwest Baltimore, and the prosecutor said the death occurred just over a week before Thursday’s announcement.
Officials have not publicly detailed every step of the case, but Bates’ comments made clear that the fatal wreck remains central to his office’s review. The prosecutor’s remarks focused on the victim, the age of the accused driver and the limits on what can be filed in juvenile court.
By naming Wright and describing the circumstances of the collision, Bates framed the case as one with a clear and tragic outcome, even if the charging rules prevent the response he wants.
Next steps remain sealed because the accused is a juvenile
Bates said what happens next in the case will remain confidential because the accused child is a juvenile. That means the public will not receive the same level of detail that would typically be available in an adult criminal case.
He said his office will explore whether charges can be brought against the child’s parents. Bates did not say what those possible charges might be or whether a filing is likely, only that he intends to examine that option.
The secrecy around juvenile proceedings leaves the case in a limited public window for now, with prosecutors acknowledging the death while keeping most of the legal process out of view.
A 15-year-old passenger was also charged in the stolen car case
Another teenager in the stolen car is already facing charges. Bates said a 15-year-old girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was charged in connection with the case.
That detail shows prosecutors are still able to pursue some parts of the investigation, even as the law bars charges against the younger child accused of driving. Bates did not outline the exact charge against the 15-year-old during the briefing.
The case has also drawn commentary from the legal community. WBAL said Andrew Alperstein, president of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, defended the state’s juvenile reform law during an appearance on WBAL News Now.
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