CLEARFIELD – A West Decatur teen accused of throwing a fast food drink out a car window that caused damage to another vehicle pleaded guilty in Clearfield County Court.
Benton Allen Sinclair, 19, 178 Pea Vine Rd., West Decatur, was charged with propelling missile into occupied vehicles, a misdemeanor of the first degree as a result of his actions in Morris Township in September of 2014.
Judge Paul E. Cherry sentenced him to two years probation and fined him $300 plus costs. He must pay restitution of over $3,500.
Prior to sentencing, Cherry told Sinclair he was putting his parents “in an awkward position.” He also told Sinclair that if his friends say to do something, he should think twice before doing it.
Sinclair’s attorney, David Thompson, stated that Sinclair was accepting responsibility for his actions and described his actions as a “kid doing a dumb thing.”
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Sept. 23, 2014 the victim was driving south on state Route 53 when an object struck the Peterbilt truck’s windshield. The damage was bad enough that the driver could barely see out of the vehicle.
The victim’s wife was traveling behind her husband when she saw a white Chevrolet Avalanche that was traveling in the opposite direction, slow down and stop.
An item then hit the truck. She turned her vehicle around and followed the white vehicle to a gas station where she saw three young men standing around the vehicle. When she asked who the driver was, Sinclair responded. He said he didn’t throw anything, but claimed a brick caused the damage to the truck.
In an interview with police, Sinclair told the officer he was driving toward Kylertown, as he drank iced tea that he had purchased at McDonald’s. He admitted he put his window down and threw the container at the truck.
He said he was just goofing around and never intended to harm anyone or to damage the truck. He was aiming for the tires and never thought it would hit the windshield, he said.
