Driver in Kia Boys YouTube video again accused of driving stolen car in Milwaukee
The Milwaukee teenager seen recklessly driving a stolen car in a viral 2022 YouTube video is back in the county jail for allegedly driving another stolen vehicle.
The accusation stems from an Aug. 22 shooting that injured Markell Hughes, 18, while he was behind the wheel on Milwaukee’s northwest side.
Hughes was given three years of probation in June after pleading guilty to charges related to footage from the video “Kia Boys Documentary (A Story of Teenage Car Theft)” by Youtuber Tommy Gerszewski, or Tommy G.
More: Teen in the viral Kia Boys video is sentenced, but community has issues with the video, too
The video, which has amassed 7.1 million views, focused on the Kia Boys, a loose collection of young people who exploit a security design flaw in certain models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles for joyriding and reckless driving.
Hughes admitted to being the driver of a stolen car seen in the video speeding and swerving down residential roads, skidding onto private property and almost hitting two pedestrians.
After Hughes pleaded guilty to two felonies related to car theft, Milwaukee County Judge Danielle Shelton sentenced Hughes to one year in prison but stayed the sentence in favor of three years of probation. The charges filed in August would expose him to that one-year prison term.
“It just shows an utter lack of caring for people around you,” Shelton said at Hughes’ sentencing hearing.
According to the criminal complaint filed for the Aug. 22 incident, Hughes was driving a stolen car when he turned down an alley and three people shot at the vehicle. Hughes told police someone he knew had stolen the car.
Hughes has been charged with driving a vehicle without consent, a felony. He pleaded not guilty Sept. 6. A lawyer for Hughes didn't return a request for comment.
Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Driver in viral Kia Boys video accused of driving stolen car
