Two 16-year-old Green River boys will be charged as adults after they attempted to strangle a woman at the Green River Youth Home so they could run away.
Even though they are juveniles, the boy’s are being charged as adults and because of that their names have been released.
Hayden A. Riggs and Charles Paiz, both of Green River, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and battery, theft, conspiracy to commit theft, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.
The kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping charges alone carry a hefty sentence of not less than 20 years or life. Combined, the rest of the charges add up to a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison and a total of $80,000 in maximum fines for all charges.
Riggs appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James Monday afternoon at an arraignment to the charges.
Paiz’ arraignment took place in the Third District Court of Judge James court Tuesday afternoon.
According to court documents, on Nov. 26, 2015, Green River Police officers were dispatched to the Green River Youth Home to check on a possible assault.
Officers found Chandra Mathis, youth home employee, with her wrists tied up with electrical cord, her ankles tied with a belt and a bed sheet was tied around her throat and head.
Officers quickly removed the sheet from Mathis head and untied her.
She told the officers she was conducting bed checks at the youth home and had gone into Paiz and Riggs’ room and Paiz allegedly tried to put something over her head. She said that was the last thing she remembered.
Another youth home resident told the officers he woke up to loud noises in the room next to his. He said he heard Mathis say “Charlie stop” and “Hayden stop.”
He went to see what was happening and saw Riggs kneeling by Mathis. Riggs was allegedly holding a sheet over her head.
The boy told the officers that in days prior to this, Riggs and Paiz approached him and asked him to help with their plan to run away from the youth home.
During this prior conversation, Paiz asked the boy to follow Mathis into their room and put a pillow case of her head and “choke her out.”
The boy said he told Paiz and Riggs he did not want to be a part of their plan.
After tying up Mathis, Paiz and Riggs allegedly stole her car. Officers noticed Mathis car was missed for the parking lot.
Mathis was then Life Flighted to Salt Lake City for injuries to her throat and later released.
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