The brother of a Brunswick County teen charged in connection with a fatal wreck in February now faces a misdemeanor charge in the case.
Justice William Harris, 16, of Calabash, was charged Friday with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to records with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Justice Harris is the brother of 19-year-old Devin Harris, who faces several felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter in the Feb. 10 wreck on Briders Road in Shallotte that killed 13-year-old Caleb Smith.
Each of the brothers is now charged with the unauthorized use of a 2007 Honda Accord, which belongs to the parents of the deceased victim, according to arrest warrants. Justice Harris and Devin Harris were the two survivors of the early morning wreck that ended in about 7 feet of water in Mulberry Creek. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Shallotte Police Department, the vehicle was traveling toward N.C. 130 on Bridgers Road, where the Honda reportedly hit the left side of Mulberry Bridge on the passenger side of the vehicle before it left the roadway and hit water.
Devin Harris was originally arrested in the case in February. On March 14, Devin Harris was indicted on multiple charges in connection with the wreck including, involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, reckless driving, no operator’s license, speeding and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to court records.
Devin Harris was booked at the Brunswick County Jail under a $1,000 bond. His brother remains at the Brunswick County Jail under a $2 million secured bond, which was raised April 4 after Devin Harris was charged with tampering with his electronic monitoring device and jailed.
