Sep 18, 2015 2 min read

A Cecil Township man was charged last week by township police after allegedly allowing his 14-year-old brother to drive a vehicle that reportedly went through a chain-link fence before crashing into the side of a house near their home in the village of Lawrence earlier this month.

Justin R. Mikels, 24, of 19 Second St., is charged with recklessly endangering another person, permitting an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle, careless driving and trespass by motor vehicle.

Police were called Sept. 5 to Second Street for a report of a vehicle into a residence. Officers found a sport utility vehicle with heavy front-end damage parked off the road in front of Mikels’ house. Mikels allegedly told police he was the driver at the time of the crash but later admitted that his 14-year-old brother had been driving.

Police said the 14-year-old was driving north on Boyce Street and was attempting to turn left onto Second when the vehicle went through the yard and a chain-link fence at 26 Second. The vehicle then went across a driveway and struck the house at 24 Second.

Witnesses told police they saw three people get out of the vehicle after the crash and start to walk away. Mikels then walked back, got his vehicle and drove to his house, the witnesses said.

Police said the foundation was damaged at 24 Second. Electrical service, siding and steps were damaged.

The charges were sent by summons from the office of Senior District Judge Jay Dutton. A hearing is set for Oct. 22.