LEWISTON, ID — A 19-year-old Clarkston man was arrested and charged with felony grand theft after admitting possession of a stolen vehicle, according to Nez Perce County authorities.
Ayden B. Roach was pulled over in the early morning hours of July 16 on Nez Perce Drive after a deputy observed a silver Mazda 3 traveling with high beams on Thain Grade. The vehicle stopped at the Ernie’s Steakhouse parking lot.
Roach, who was driving, could not provide vehicle registration or proof of insurance and did not have a valid driver’s license. A records check revealed he had an active warrant for his arrest.
Court documents state that Roach admitted he and a friend found the vehicle at a residence on the 600 block of 10th Street in Lewiston, with the keys inside. He claimed not to know the owner.
The registered owner confirmed to police that neither Roach nor his acquaintance had permission to use the vehicle.
Roach was booked into the Nez Perce County Jail and charged with grand theft, a felony punishable by up to 14 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. He was also cited for driving without a license and failure to dim headlights.
Roach has a prior failure to appear in court for a separate case. At his initial court appearance, bond was set at $5,000 with conditions including drug and alcohol testing, no new criminal charges, and electronic monitoring.
