Teen charged as adult in 2 deaths

Weber County prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old boy as an adult in connection with a police chase that ended in a crash that killed two men.

Prosecutors direct-filed the adult charges against Mark Mora in Ogden's 2nd District Court on Wednesday, charging him with two counts of automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, in the deaths of Blake Strebel, 19, and Derek Jasper, 18. Mora was also charged with failure to respond to an officer's signal to stop, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanor charges of driving on a suspended license, no insurance and a license plate violation.

The charging documents revealed that investigators believe Mora was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, but note that the circumstances did not amount to murder or aggravated murder. Mora was booked into the Weber County Jail Wednesday afternoon, with bail set at $31,000.

Initially, he will go through an orientation procedure, but Weber County Jail officials said Mora's age would likely not be much of a factor while he is housed in the adult facility.

"It factors a little bit," said Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Mark Lowther. "We go based on their behavior, what they're classified at and what their charges are."

In certain circumstances, prosecutors can level adult charges against juveniles typically if they have prior felonies or the crime is egregious enough under the law.

Police said an officer attempted to stop Mora and Andrew Michael Gomez, 21, who were suspects in a home burglary last week. But police said Mora took off, leading police on a brief chase that ended in a crash at 28th Street and Washington Boulevard when Mora's Cadillac smashed into a Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Blake Strebel. Both Strebel and Jasper were killed instantly.

Mora was incapacitated. Police said Gomez fled from the scene before being captured after a brief foot chase across a parking lot.

Gomez appeared briefly Tuesday in Ogden's 2nd District Court where he was formally charged with misdemeanor assault against a police officer and interfering with an arrest. That same day, Jasper and Strebel were buried.

Family members of Mora and Gomez have expressed their sorrow and sympathy for the families of the victims, but have blamed police for initiating the pursuit in the first place.

E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com