Teen suspects appear in court after violent multi-county crime spree across Triangle

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Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Teen suspects appear in court after violent crime spree
Teen suspects appear in court after violent crime spree

DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) -- Two teenagers faced a judge Wednesday, accused of going on a crime spree in two Triangle counties early Tuesday morning.

They're currently charged in connection with multiple armed robberies in Durham, but the crime spree involved a lot more than just robberies.

In the courtroom Wednesday, the pair's relatives watched - some weeping - as Marcus Cofield, 17, of Durham, Jarrien Smith, 18, of Durham, heard the charges against them.

Marcus Cofield, left, and Jarrien Smith
Durham Police Department

They are charged with three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery.

While they're inside the Durham County Jail, Cofield's in trouble with the law elsewhere after Tuesday's carjacking in Cary.

RELATED: Suspects charged in violent multi-county crime spree across Triangle

"He has other pending charges out of Wake County including larceny of a motor vehicle and conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses.

He also has two prior convictions, the most recent from earlier this year for misdemeanor larceny.

Smith, wearing bandages after the incidents on Tuesday, was also in trouble with the law before Tuesday's early morning crimes.

"Mr. Smith is charged with obtaining property by false pretenses and possession of stolen goods, alleged to have occurred on September 9th," a prosecutor said in court.

That's when he allegedly sold a pair of stolen headphones to a pawn shop.

He's also charged with three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Investigators say on Tuesday, the teens stole electronics and cash valued at $2,000 from two men on Main Street in Durham.

One of them allegedly used a gun while stealing a cell phone from a woman.

Both are charged with conspiring with three other male juvenile suspects who were not in court Wednesday because their age.

They are charged with three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Juvenile petitions have been filed on the three juveniles. Secured custody orders have been issued and they have been transported to a juvenile detention center. The three juveniles are ages 14, 15 and 15.