15-year-old charged in two armed carjackings waived into adult court

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 15-year-old was waived from juvenile into adult court last week and formally charged Monday with two armed carjackings involving two different women in the same northeast side parking lot in Cedar Rapids last month.

Tywun Moore of Cedar Rapids, was charged Monday in Linn County District Court with two counts of first-degree robbery. He is accused of pulling a handgun and threatening Cheryl Smallwood-Roberts, who was in her Honda Civic in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, 2645 Blairs Ferry Road NE, on May 25, according to the criminal complaint. He asked her for change and when she refused he threatened her with 'what appeared to be a handgun” and then stole her Honda, which was later found disabled in Hiawatha.

The same day, Moore approached another woman, Kylie Cox, as she was getting into her Nissan Versa, also in the parking lot, and stole her purse and vehicle, the complaint shows. Moore was later arrested with the stolen Nissan in Davenport.

Moore appeared before a judge in Linn County Juvenile Court Friday and was waived into adult court. 6th Judicial Associate District Judge Nicholas Scott, in his order, determined there are 'no rehabilitative measures” remaining in the juvenile system for 15-year-old Moore, based on review of the 'waiver hearing report,” which contains background on the teen.

Scott also found there was probable cause that Moore committed the alleged crimes, and it was in the best interests of the teen and community that he be waived into District Court for prosecution as a youthful offender, according to Iowa law.

Moore, if found guilty, could be ordered to the Iowa State Training School for Boys until age 18 and then the court will decide to discharge him or impose a prison sentence.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com