BUFFALO, N.Y. — The 16-year-old accused of driving a stolen Kia on Monday in a crash that killed four other teens was arraigned Friday in Erie County Family Court.

The defendant, who authorities are not identifying, is charged with one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree. These charges do not qualify for bail, according to the district attorney's office, and the defendant was released under supervision with an ankle monitor. He pleaded not guilty.

“I get that the optics are not good when I have four dead teenagers and this kid is out there playing video games right now," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. "So I recognize that and I’m not happy about that. But in this particular case, for the time being, that’s the way it has to be because I need to gather additional evidence in order to potentially charge more serious crimes.”

The prosecution said they plan to present the case to a grand jury in an attempt to indict him on more serious charges. Prosecutors also asked for and were granted a protection order for one witness.

Flynn said he could not confirm the so-called "Kia Challenge," a TikTok trend encouraging others to break into Kia cars using phone chargers, played a part, but he believed it may have been a factor. He said the investigation will take some time as they collect evidence from a destroyed vehicle, including data from the car's so-called black box. 

Victims who died in the crash range from ages 14 to 19. Another 14-year-old girl remains in the hospital.