16-Year Old Also Charged In Connection With Theft Of Rifle Found In Truck On Tate High Campus

March 10, 2022

A 16-year old has also been charged in connection with the theft of a rifle found inside a vehicle on the Tate High School campus last month.

Vontrey Garrett is charged with felony grand theft of a firearm.

On February 15, Caden Edward Sterling, 18, was found to be in possession of a stolen 300 caliber AR-15 rifle along with four magazines and 34 rounds of ammunition in his truck at Tate High School, according to court documents. Sterling told deputies that he obtained the gun from “an unknown male for an unknown reason” and could offer no further information or documentation, an arrest report states. Sterling was also charged with grand theft of a firearm.

The gun had been reported stolen by an Escambia County man that told deputies it had been taken from his son’s locked bedroom. He told deputies that Sterling was the boyfriend of his 15-year old daughter, the report states.

The girlfriend told deputies that Sterling told her that his friend “Trey” was the one that actually stole the gun. “Trey” was later identified as Vontrey Garrett, the State Attorney’s Office said.

The girlfriend stated that Garrett “put the gun in the back of Sterling’s truck and with his knowledge that he drove to school with the firearm where it was later located by the sheriff’s office and confiscated”, according to the report.

Many of Sterling’s statements to investigators were redacted from the report.

Comments

19 Responses to “16-Year Old Also Charged In Connection With Theft Of Rifle Found In Truck On Tate High Campus”

  1. Molino Mom on March 10th, 2022 7:56 pm

    Some kids are raised right and still do these stupid things so don’t always blame parents-because that’s NOT always the case.
    You can only do so much with children these days..your hands are tied to a certain point and its not easy to get these kids help when you try to as a parent.
    I pray that both of these young boys realize how wrong this was and they learn from their mistakes before its too late for them both.

  2. Rob on March 10th, 2022 7:24 pm

    So many of you have this all figured out, but cant read the clear explanation of why there is not two pictures lol

  3. Are you kidding me on March 10th, 2022 6:58 pm

    Seriously people – read the article! It clearly explains why the picture was not published. Thanks William for all your coverage.

  4. Good grief on March 10th, 2022 2:05 pm

    Dad, you need to get your daughter away from these losers….no matter what it takes.

  5. Lou on March 10th, 2022 1:48 pm

    It is sad to see this young man, in so much trouble. May the Gods help him, he is just a kid.

  6. William Reynolds on March 10th, 2022 1:03 pm

    For those asking about the mugshot of the other suspect, that’s clearly explained in the last sentence of the previous story.

    “Sterling’s mugshot was unavailable from the Escambia County Jail, which cited a Florida statute that exempts the release of photographs of  current or former law enforcement personnel, their spouses and their children.”

    http://www.northescambia.com/2022/03/ecso18-year-old-facing-felony-charge-in-connection-with-rifle-found-in-his-vehicle-on-tate-high-campus-ecso-says

  7. Double Standard on March 10th, 2022 12:45 pm

    This is a perfect example of differential justice in our system. The adult male is charged with the same crime as the juvenile male, yet only one has their picture published. I understand it is due to some silly law designed to shield LEOs and their families.

    But I don’t care if the adult male is the child of a LEO or a former LEO–he is an adult and should have his photo shared across the internet as well.

  8. Lil Johnny on March 10th, 2022 12:02 pm

    Just doesn’t seem fair that Mr. Garrett pic can be shared, but Mr. Sterling pic is withheld.

  9. Beach Boy on March 10th, 2022 11:08 am

    @Anne…I wish I could tell you that things will get better….however….in this day and age, things are only going to get worse. At my age I’ve seen things grow increasingly worse since the time I was a kid. All we can do is pray for these kids that they will realize there is a consequence to their action and they will learn from it and it will change their life.

  10. EMD on March 10th, 2022 10:56 am

    What a sweet, but sad, face on this boy. Do not know him, but I sense he needs prayer from those so inclined, that see this also.

  11. SMH… on March 10th, 2022 10:54 am

    Even if someone else did steal the gun, that still doesn’t excuse Sterling. He must have been down with it because you are not going to allow someone to put stolen items in your vehicle if you are not okay with it.

  12. Howie on March 10th, 2022 10:30 am

    @Anne – there is no way around stupidity. Keep your distance from them is how I deal with it. If you don’t, you may end up in their shenanigans.

    Stupid people don’t know they are stupid.

  13. Lynda on March 10th, 2022 10:14 am

    Just curious why the 16 year old has his picture posted here but the 18 year old did not…

  14. Shayla on March 10th, 2022 9:44 am

    Why is this 16 year old picture posted, but the 18 year old’s picture was not published. Things tha make you go hmmmmm

  15. Fred on March 10th, 2022 9:20 am

    I’m afraid I don’t understand why this kid’s photo is available, but the 18 year old Sterling’s photo isn’t.

  16. Kim on March 10th, 2022 7:42 am

    Why is his photo published but Caden Edward Sterling is not?

  17. Grady Smith on March 10th, 2022 7:19 am

    Different strokes and family ties.

  18. Just Me on March 10th, 2022 7:09 am

    What’s happening with this ,the original story withheld Sterling’s photo?

  19. Anne on March 10th, 2022 7:08 am

    Good Lord, what a mess and ding-bat kids.
    Will this thug life be the future world our grandkids are forced to deal with?
    How do law abiding people combat this stupidity?