Pierce County man accused of running over two young girls earlier this month and killing one of them pleaded not guilty Thursday to a host of criminal charges. The suspect was believed to have driven the getaway car that picked up the driver accused of hitting the young victims. Prosecutors said they have filed nine counts of charges against him, including vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, failure to remain at an accident resulting in death, second-degree burglary, first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. He was ordered held at the Pierce County Jail on a $1 million bond.
He allegedly struck the two 12-year-old girls while driving a stolen flatbed box truck on Jan. 15 that was taken during a burglary of Amazing Landscape Services. The driver of a blue sedan was captured on surveillance camera picking up Kohl. The sheriff’s office said that 33-year-old driver was seen by an undercover deputy and fled the scene but crashed into a big rig and utility pole. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department says deputies recovered approximately $100,000 worth of stolen equipment from a storage unit that is reportedly connected to the fatal hit-and-run of the 12-year-old girl last month.
The sheriff’s office says an investigation into the two revealed that they were allegedly involved in significant property theft. The equipment was inventoried and returned to the businesses, the sheriff’s office says. Investigators were able to crack the case after an investigation that relied on a trail of evidence that led them to the suspect.
“When our SWAT rolled up, they immediately turned the lights on and made announcements,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Darren Moss. “And he surrendered to them with no problems at all.”Kohl has had previous encounters with law enforcement.
State documents show he’s been arrested 11 times for offenses that date back to 2011. According to court records, Kohl has been convicted of five felonies and several misdemeanors. “He does have criminal history,” Moss said.
