District officials are putting together damage estimates for
reimbursment
Gilroy – Lawyers for four suspects arrested and charged with vandalizing Antonio Del Buono Elementary School last summer, asked for more time to seek restitution information from the Gilroy Unified School District.
Jacob Cortes, 18, of Morgan Hill, Christian Javier, 18, of Gilroy, David Sanchez, 18, of Gilroy, and Jorden Matthew Newton, 19, of Gilroy, are charged with possession of stolen property – a felony, vandalism and petty theft. Newton faces an additional felony count for vandalism.
District officials received a query Wednesday from the defendants attorneys asking for the amount of damages that occurred during the break-in.
“I think we’d like the cost of damages and cleaning,” said Assistant Superintendent Steve Brinkman. “How the justice department metes out punishment is up to them – we at least want restitution for the damages.”
Brinkman declined to release damage estimates because the matter is still pending.
Fire extinguishers had been set off in the hallways and restrooms. Footprints were found linking one of the suspects to the crime. According to Gilroy Police Sgt. Wes Stanford, a fire extinguisher was found in one of the suspect’s vehicles, and the suspects photographed themselves using a digital camera at the scene.
The teens could serve up to one year in county jail or state prison for the crime if convicted.
Court records indicate Newton is linked to a previous break-in at the school that occurred March 26.
Review of an audiotape recorded while the suspects were in custody showed Newton “admitting to a prior vandalism which GPD Communications researched and located an event,” a police report read.
The matter will be back in court Jan. 26.
