New charges filed against alleged gang member

New charges filed against alleged gang member

(David Sota Acosta)


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SALT LAKE CITY — New charges were filed Tuesday against a West Valley man who police say once proclaimed he would always attack rival gang members "no matter what the consequences."

David Sota Acosta, 18, of West Valley City, who police say uses the moniker "Lil Droop," was charged in 3rd District Court with theft by receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, fleeing, possession of drug paraphernalia, alcohol consumption by a minor and lying to police.

On Feb. 21, a Sandy police officer spotted a vehicle parked at 8870 S. State. Acosta was sitting in the backseat. He was carrying a knife in his pocket, and the officer noticed a gun on the car floor before Acosta tried to run away, according to charging documents. The officer chased Acosta and arrested him.

Acosta later told detectives that he had stolen the vehicle and was inside it smoking meth, drinking beer and had just loaded a handgun when the officer pulled up, the charges state. The .22-caliber handgun had the serial number scratched off, police said. Inside the vehicle, officers also found items typically used for selling drugs and a spent shell casing, according to the charges.

Acosta was on juvenile felony probation at the time. On March 6, he was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

In 2013, Acosta pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. That case was the result of an incident on Feb. 20, 2013, at the Decker Lake juvenile detention facility, 2310 W. 2770 South, when police say Acosta stabbed another juvenile in the face with a sharpened pencil without warning.

Acosta told investigators that even though he had never spoken with the other boy, he "just knew" he was an opposing gang member and had planned to attack him, the charges state. He allegedly stabbed his victim three times, just missing his eye. Acosta said his goal was to make the boy "bleed" by "stabbing him in the eye," according to the charges.

Acosta also told investigators he would attack his victim again if given the chance and that "he will always attack those that oppose his gang no matter what the consequences."

He also told authorities he didn't expect to live past 25 and planned on going to prison, according to charging documents.

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Pat Reavy

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