Woodstock Teen Indicted in Towne Lake Entering Auto Case

A Woodstock teenager has been indicted in relation to several entering auto cases that hit the Towne Lake area last year.

Austin Sam Stepho, 17, was indicted last week by a Cherokee County grand jury on seven counts of felony entering auto to commit theft. The teen will be arraigned on the charges in Cherokee County Superior Court at 9 a.m. Feb. 12. 

Stepho, along with Christopher Eriquezzo, 18, were both arrested by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office in August in connection to the cases.

Eriquezzo last month pleaded guilty to five counts of felony entering auto, along with pleading guilty to burglary in the second degree and tampering with evidence in a separate case. 

He received an eight-year sentence, with the first 180 days to serve in confinement.

"There were numerous other conditions of probation as well, such as a requirement that the defendant pay restitution to the victims," Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney Shannon Wallace said.

According to the sheriff's office, the entering auto cases occurred in the Towne Lake Hills East and Towne Lake Hills West neighborhoods and the Arbor View subdivision off East Cherokee Drive. 

A video of the suspects allegedly flipping vehicle door handles was released on Aug. 2 in an effort to solve the crimes. Some of the items taken from vehicles include cash, a laptop and a knife.

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