Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Decade Of Work Destroyed Young Vandalism Suspects Face A Couple Days In Detention

Eric Sorensen Staff writer

Two boys, 10 and 12, were charged this week with destroying a decade’s worth of research by vandalizing a seed storage house at Washington State University.

Several batches of specially designed seeds were mixed together in the May attack, rendering them useless. Vandalism to the Grimes Way building also included spray painting, discharging fire extinguishers and breaking windows.

School officials estimated the damage at $50,000 to each of three research programs.

The youths could be ordered to pay restitution, but that appears unlikely because juveniles are generally ordered to pay only what they can, said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Darla Copeland Grose. The mother of one of the boys has already asked for a public defender, Copeland Grose said.

Robert Allan, a wheat breeder with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, said he doesn’t expect he can recover the work.

“You’re looking at 10 years of my career,” said Allan, 64. “I don’t have much time left.”

The seed was created over six growth cycles and was aimed at developing a wheat variety particularly suited to low-till farming, an increasingly popular method that sows seed directly into uncultivated ground.

Because it hardly disrupts the soil, the technique helps prevent erosion. However, it leaves plants vulnerable to soil-borne diseases.

The two boys were charged Tuesday with second-degree burglary and first-degree malicious mischief. They face from two to four days in juvenile detention, said Copeland Grose.

WSU police tracked down the boys after workers reported seeing them go from the seed house to nearby student apartments, Copeland Grose said. Court records say the two later admitted the vandalism.

, DataTimes