Small Town News

Bus vandalism costs district $14,400

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Willcox School District has spent $14,400 in glass repairs and district labor expenses after 11 buses were vandalized on Oct. 3.

About $12,900 of the expense was repairing broken bus windows, windshields and door panels. Labor costs made up the other $1,500, including five employees who worked Saturday and Sunday, as well as Business Manager Jim Foley and Willcox Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug, who each worked a full day.

Willcox Police Chief Jake Weaver said two young brothers from Saf-f ord, ages eight and 10, were arrested and charged with numerous crimes:

Eleven counts each of aggravated criminal damage (aggravated since they were one school property and the buses belonged to the school)

Eleven counts each of burglary

One count each of theft (clicker)

One count each of criminal littering (for leaving fecal matter in the buses)

One count each of being a public nuisance (for defecating in the buses)

The boys were held at Cochise County Juvenile Detention in Sierra Vista following the incident Saturday night, Oct. 3 until a detention hearing Monday, Oct. 5, said Delcy Scull, director of the county's Juvenile Court Services. The boys were released to their mother Oct. 5.

A status conference for the boys' case is set for Monday, Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. at Juvenile Court in Sierra Vista.

"The attorneys and judge will look at the status of the case and determine the next legal step to be taken, whether it's a plea or a trial or some other action," Scull said.

The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction of cases against minors from the age of eight through age 17, Scull said.

Rundhaug said, "The court may not have determined whether the age of the juveniles precludes them from being competent to stand trial," and depending on what * the court does, "the District and its insurance company have had preliminary discussions about the possibility of seeking a civil remedy. I would take that to the School Board."





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© 2010 Arizona Range News Willcox, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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