Two Gilbert boys have now been charged following allegations they damaged a sprinkler head at Williams Field High School in May, causing $170,000 in damage to the Higley Unified School District campus, according Maricopa County Juvenile Court records.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office filed the charges against the two 16-year-olds June 24. The charges for each include two misdemeanor charges of aggravated criminal damage, with one charge including conspiracy; and two felony charges of interference with the conduct at a school, with one charge including conspiracy.
The Tribune is not naming the boys because they are minors. Both have court dates later this month.
According to Gilbert police records, on May 21 the boys left their classroom and entered a hall where one admitted to an officer several days later that he stood on several textbooks to use a lighter to trigger the fire sprinkerhead. He claimed the second boy was on lookout, according to the report. The first boy told police he thought, "this would be funny, me not thinking that it would like ruin the whole school." He told police he believed someone would be able to pull a lever to stop the water.
Police interviewed about a dozen witnesses, adults and students.
The entire campus was evacuated as a result of the fire alarm system going off during classes.
The district is in the process of making repairs at the campus and installing security cameras at both of its high schools as a result of the incident.
azdevildog posted at 4:54 am on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
Wow. The only comment that rates any merit is that, absolutely, boys will be boys. You people know nothing of the parents, the two juveniles involved or the real extent of the damages. What? All of a sudden this incident is a microcosmic example of the "trouble in River City" ? The moral decay of our youth and a societal failure to "raise these yung'uns right"?
I am confident insurance will cover most of this unfortunate event costing the taxpayers an increase in next years premium and unless it was Rural-Metro (I don't know what is contracted ) and unless emergency responders were doing OT -- all that cost is manpower, fuel and increased stress levels.
The one kid confessed several days later....was it out of conscience....or did the officer trip him up in regards to his statement..or a little bit of both? I am thankful we have professionals to handle this and mob rule is frowned upon.
HANG 'EM -- HANG'EM HIGH I SAY is not quite my thing.
AZMomma posted at 12:28 pm on Sun, Jul 11, 2010.
Stupid brats! Yes, they are immature, but they also need to spend some serious hard-time doing repairs, community service, plus parents re-paying school for all costs.
20 years from now, these little over-indulged brats will remember how stupid they were, and perhaps instill better values in their own children.
sweeteliz posted at 9:12 pm on Sat, Jul 10, 2010.
Mom and Dad need to get out their wallets - not the Gilbert taxpayers! And those involved should don orange jumpsuits and serve time cleaning the school and the surrounding streets.
Then the parents should attend parenting classes while their little darlings serve meals at a shelter. (Perhaps they will realize how lucky they have it and the parents will learn how to say no)
The lesser the punishment the more likely some other kid with less brains than road kill will try it.
stan000 posted at 12:42 pm on Thu, Jul 8, 2010.
I figure mommy and daddy should get to pay for this, they are the ones that raised kids dumb enough to pull a stunt like this.
The kids should get something serious in the way of punishment, maybe 6 months with a baggie picking up dog waste at the dog park but not jail time.
Gotta be careful what you call dog waste or the forum chokes. :-)
Hellraiser posted at 6:38 pm on Wed, Jul 7, 2010.
Boys will be boys is a stupid irresponsible statement!
Stupid statements and this kind of mentality is why we have so many problems with young people today. Kids need to realize the magnitude of what they are doing. I hope they don't let this kids off with a slap on the wrist.
081677 posted at 4:43 pm on Wed, Jul 7, 2010.
boys will be boys