Las Cruces Police arrested two teenage girls suspected of stealing a vehicle from their foster parents and taking it for a joyride with an 18-year-old friend.
Elexus Rodriguez and Isabela Pacheco-Chavez, both 15, and Juan Bailon, 18, were arrested on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Rodriguez and Pacheco-Chavez are charged with one count each of taking of a motor vehicle and conspiracy. Pacheco-Chavez faces an additional charge of larceny while Rodriguez faces charges of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and concealing her identity.
Bailon is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle; two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor; resisting, evading or obstructing an officer; concealing identity and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that Rodriguez and Pacheco-Chavez snuck out of their foster parents’ home sometime around midnight and took the family’s Chrysler 300. Shortly after leaving the home, Bailon joined the two girls in the joyride and in smoking marijuana that he is alleged to have provided.
The car eventually ran out of gas and a Las Cruces Police officer located Pacheco-Chavez at a family member’s home. Other officers found Rodriguez and Bailon on west Picacho Avenue where they both gave false names and tried running from police.
Rodriguez and Pacheco-Chavez are being held without bond while Bailon was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $5,000.