What was supposed to be a relaxing day at the beach for a Bradenton family ended with the arrest of a would-be carjacker.
Steven Lewter, 43, of Bradenton, remained in the Manatee County jail Aug. 18 after his Aug. 12 arrest for allegedly carjacking with a firearm or weapon, attempted carjacking with a weapon and aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. All four crimes are felonies.
Lewter was out of jail that day on bond for eight charges of theft and weapon-related crimes.
The carjacking attempts took place in the parking lot at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, where Lewter allegedly jumped in the driver’s seat of an SUV. He apparently saw a woman get out of the driver’s seat and walk to the back of the vehicle, Bradenton Beach Police Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz told The Islander Aug. 17.
He threw a few plastic bags of belongings into the SUV and was attempting to steal the vehicle when he realized there was no key in the ignition.
According to the police report, he jumped out to take the vehicle key at knifepoint from the woman, who screamed, attracting the attention of her husband, who was standing on the passenger side of the vehicle. The couple’s three children — a 4-year-old, 14-month-old and an infant — were in the backseat.
Lewter moved on in the parking lot and allegedly pulled a knife on another motorist several rows of parking away. But the owner did not want to give up his vehicle and forcefully opened a door, knocking Lewter to the ground.
After a scuffle in which the vehicle owner sustained a cut on his hand, Lewter was subdued.
Lewter told officers he was having a bad day and knew he’d made it worse, Diaz said.
He will face 12th District Circuit Court Judge Frederick P. Mercurio for arraignment at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.
Lewter faces two first-degree felonies for the armed carjacking and attempted armed carjacking. The maximum penalty for each is life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
The aggravated battery is a second-degree felony with a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of $10,000.
The third-degree felony assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of $5,000.
Lewter’s bond for the earlier charges was revoked.