Couple Get State Prison For Multiple Carjackings, Chase Into City

Eric Meehan and Ashley Young.
Credit: Newtown Township police

A couple were sentenced to state prison for two violent carjackings in Lower Bucks County last November.

Eric Meehan, 29, of Philadelphia, and Ashley Young, 32, of Northampton Township, who were both homeless at the time of the incident, were sentenced Monday by Bucks County Judge Jeffrey Finley at the Justice Center. Meehan was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in state prison and Young was ordered to serve 6.5 to 20 years in state prison. Both were ordered to pay $7,699.86 in restitution.

Meehan and Young pleaded guilty in October to two counts each of robbery of a motor vehicle and aggravated assault and one count each of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle and attempt to commit robbery of a motor vehicle. Meehan also pleaded guilty to three counts of terroristic threats and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude police, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

The couple carjacked a woman and struck her and a man with the stolen vehicle as they fled the Chandler Hall Senior Center on Barclay Street in Newtown Township around 3 p.m. on November 27, 2020, authorities said.

The two victims were taken to the hospital after being struck. The injuries included a shoulder wound that required surgery, authorities said.

The couple ended up damaging the carjacked vehicle. Due to the damage, they attempted to carjack a second vehicle at Summit Trace Road in Newtown Township. The owner of the vehicle reported he was in his running car when Meehan and Young attempted to gain access. He was able to lock his doors and drive away, authorities said.

Meehan and Young took off and drove the damaged car to the 500 block of White Swan Way in Middletown Township. At that location, the couple carjacked an SUV from a 68-year-old man. The two pulled the man from the SUV, authorities said.

Following the second car jacking, dispatchers put out a flash over police radio about the suspects and thefts.

Bensalem Township police spotted the stolen SUV heading south on Route 1 toward Philadelphia.

Bensalem Township police and Philadelphia police chased the stolen SUV. A city police helicopter was called in to assist, police said.

The chase came to an end with a crash in the 1600 block of Orthodox Street in Philadelphia. The stolen SUV with the couple inside hit several parked cars and one that was occupied, authorities said.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Thomas Gannon presented the court police dash camera video showing the pursuit involving Bensalem Township and city cops. The stolen SUV went through red lights, flew through busy intersections, drove into opposing traffic, nearly struck a pedestrian crossing a street, and drove on the sidewalk.