FARMINGTON – Two teenagers admitted to several charges Thursday in juvenile court pertaining to burglaries and vandalism at 27 camps in June 2008 on Porter Lake in Strong and New Vineyard.
A Farmington boy, 17, and a Wilton boy who was 17 at the time and turned 18 earlier this month, were sentenced to spend time in a juvenile detention center, ordered to pay restitution, serve two years probation and abide by a curfew.
Seven people including four adults have been charged in the spree that caused more than $100,000 in damage. Camps were burglarized, windows shattered and items broken, with the primary item taken being alcohol, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson told the court.
The Farmington boy had faced 16 counts of felony burglary, seven counts of criminal mischief and 12 counts of theft.
Robinson and the teen’s defense attorney, Robert Conkling, reached a plea agreement in the case.
The boy admitted to two counts of felony burglary, and 14 misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and four counts of theft. The other charges were dismissed.
Judge Valerie Stanfill imposed a sentence to serve an indefinite time not to exceed his 21st birthday at a juvenile detention center, all suspended.
However, she imposed a concurrent 30-day sentence on the same charges that the teen will have to serve eight days at a juvenile detention center in Charleston. Upon his release, he will serve two years probation, be restricted to a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until June 15, unless accompanied by a parent or working. He was ordered to pay his share of $3,280 in restitution. If one of the co-defendants doesn’t pay their share, the other co-defendants will have to pay the remainder of the money.
The restitution is based on what camp owners had to pay for insurance deductibles.
The Wilton teen was initially charged with 16 counts of felony burglary, 15 counts of criminal mischief, four counts of theft by unauthorized taking and one count of theft by receiving stolen property.
A plea agreement between Robinson and the boy’s attorney, Chris Berryment, had the boy admit to two counts of felony burglary and misdemeanor charges of 14 counts of criminal mischief, three counts of theft and one count of receiving stolen property.
In a separate case, the teenager also admitted to violating his probation.
If the case had gone to trial, Franklin County Sheriff’s Cpl. Steve Charles would have testified that the defendant admitted to going to places but not breaking into any of them. He walked along the road and picked up items from the others, Robinson said.
Based on his admission, he was charged under the accomplice theory, he said.
Stanfill ordered the teen to serve 30 days at Charleston detention center for violating his probation.
He was also sentenced to serve an indefinite time at a juvenile detention center up to his 21st birthday, which was all suspended, in connection with camp burglaries. He was ordered to serve a concurrent 30 days, all suspended.
Stanfill ordered him to pay his share of the $3,280 restitution, serve two years probation, be restricted to a curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. with the exception of going with his father or working. He was also ordered to do 25 hours of public service.
Robinson said the teenager took responsibility for his actions.
Both boys were also prohibited from using alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco and are subject to random testing for them. They are also required to have a substance abuse evaluation and to participate in any treatment necessary.
Both are also prohibited from having contact with co-defendants.
Stanfill cautioned both of them that if they commit a new crime they have about three years hanging over their heads to serve at a juvenile detention center.
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