Vandalism Suspects Enter Not Guilty Pleas

Sat., May 24, 1997

By Tom Sowa toms@spokesman.com (509) 459-5492

Two 13-year-old boys charged with burglary and malicious mischief for a destructive rampage at Sacajawea Middle School entered pleas of not guilty Friday in Juve nile Court.

Authorities say the two youths tore up the school for about 90 minutes in the early hours of May 11, smashing computers, office equipment, furniture, walls and windows. One estimate placed the damage at more than $100,000.

Deputy Prosecutor Shane Smith said both boys will also face additional burglary and malicious mischief charges for vandalizing a nearby post office and a church just before the school rampage.

One of the boys was also charged Friday with four misdemeanor charges ranging from third-degree theft to attempted theft. That boy, a former student at Sacajawea until he was expelled for truancy, already has convictions for car theft, burglary and third-degree theft.

The second youth, who left Centennial Middle School and was attending a Valley alternative school at the time of the vandalism, has no prior criminal record.

The teen with the longer record could face a sentence of 13 to 16 weeks detention for each crime, if convicted.

The other 13-year-old would face lesser penalties - roughly 2 to 4 days detention for each crime, if convicted. Prosecutors have also said they may consider asking for exceptional sentences because the damage was so excessive.

, DataTimes

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