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- Three juveniles charged with vandalism
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Three juveniles have been charged with vandalism after entering a Nephi school and causing several thousand dollars worth of damage.
Nebo View Elementary sustained the damage during the night hours, said Bert Wright, Nephi City Police officer. He said the crime was committed Friday, Sept. 21, and was reported on Saturday, Sept. 22.
“The juveniles entered the school through a door that had been left unlocked,” said Wright.
The individuals then dumped water in file drawers where lesson plans were stored, smeared glue on desks, and spread paint on walls, floors, chairs and white boards.
Wright said the vandals also stole items from the school. Those items included a cell phone, camera and candy.
“We were able to obtain footprints and fingerprints at the scene,” said Wright.
There were two 13-year old individuals and one 14-year old involved in the crimes, he said.
“We have interviewed all the suspects and we think we have the case solved,” Wright said.
Jared Eldridge, Juab County Attorney, said that his office is currently examining the case.
“We are reviewing possible charges,” he said.
Those charges may include burglary and criminal mischief.
Derek Walk, NCPD officer, said that only one of the juveniles was a local and she was a female.
“There were two males and they were from Payson,” he said.
A child under the age of 18 is considered a juvenile.
Since state law requires that a juvenile who commits a crime be treated differently than an adult, juvenile cases are handled in the juvenile court system.
Unlike adult criminal courts which are criminal in nature, juvenile courts are civil courts. The reason for this difference is because juvenile court, rather than simply punishing kids, also exists to protect the community while rehabilitating young people charged with breaking the law.
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