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BOREDOM LED TO $25,000 IN DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

Four local teens have been arrested by Raymondville ISD School Police and charged with the January 23 vandalism of the new Myra Green Middle School, now under construction, and the high school football stadium.

School police chief Oscar Gutierrez said two of the teens are considered adults based on their ages while the others are juveniles. And 3- of-the-4 who painted graffiti in red and black paint at the school are girls.

Jamie Lynn Moreno, 17, who lives at La Luz Apartments is one of the girls arrested and charged with two counts of felony destruction of school property. Her bond was set at $40,000 and she remains in the Willacy County Jail following her arrest.

Also arrested and charged with two counts of felony vandalism is Raven Villegas, 18, of North Third Street and San Francisco. She is also being held in Willacy County Jail on bonds set at $40,000.

A 14-year-old girl and a 15- year-old boy were also arrested in connection with these crimes and both were sent to the Darrell Hester juvenile facility in Harlingen where they are being held.

Chief Gutierrez said the motive for the vandalism which did damage estimated at $25,000 to the new middle school and the football stadium was "boredom".

The teens, Gutierrez said, were celebrating the 17th birthday of Jamie Lynn Moreno and they decided to attack the school with spray paint.

City police investigator David Robles commented, "Some buy balloons and a cake, others break into the school," to celebrate a birthday.

Chief Gutierrez said, "Things have changed, kids have changed. I'm 40, I was raised on the Thomas Ranch north of town. We were poor and we rode the school bus to school and back. We didn't have airconditioning and it was hot. We ate rice and beans but we fed the horses and later I learned to fix windmills. God forbid that you would sass a teacher. You gotta appreciate Mr. Knipp and Mr. West (Myra Green principal and high school principal). I do."

Gutierrez said he had an idea who might be responsible for the graffiti painting spree based on personal knowledge gained in five years.

"Then we got a lead and gathered enough evidence for probable cause to bring them in."

The chief said that a new law took effect in Texas in Sept., 2009 which enhances (doubles) the punishment for vandalism when schools or churches are involved.

Willacy County District Attorney Bernard Ammerman recently announced tougher punishment for these crimes and his message is on page 15 of this newspaper.

Meanwhile, city police charged a 15-year-old boy with four counts of vandalism after he admitted spray painting the old Cashway laundromat building at 300 West Wood Ave., the old Whitewing Hotel building at 400 east Hidalgo Ave., an Allied waste dumpster at 240 south King (La Luz Apts) and the Professional Insurance office at 185 S. 8th Street. The teen was charged and then turned over to his parents after an investigation by Lyford Police resulted in a statement that he did the damage.

In the Myra Green vandalism the buildings were painted at "twilight" on a Saturday evening by the girls who were loitering at the construction site of the new $20 million middle school next to the football stadium.

Chief Gutierrez said more youth activities might help to prevent such senseless acts of vandalism from kids who have no respect for the property of others but, "I don't blame the community. Maybe Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts might help. I don't know."

Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace George Solis is active in repair-ing property damage from spray paint and he uses kids on juvenile probation to do the work with the city and individuals providing the paint and brushes. Property owners who need this kind of help may contact Judge Solis at the American Legion 689-1903.