The Gilroy Police Department continues to investigate burglary
charges against four South County teens accused of vandalizing
Antonio Del Buono Elementary School at the request of the District
Attorney’s office.
Gilroy – The Gilroy Police Department continues to investigate burglary charges against four South County teens accused of vandalizing Antonio Del Buono Elementary School at the request of the District Attorney’s office.
Jacob Cortes, 18, of Morgan Hill, and Christian Javier, 18, David Sanchez, 18, and Jorden Newton, 18, all of Gilroy, were scheduled to be arraigned at the South County Courthouse Tuesday on charges of burglary at Del Buono school, but the court date has been delayed until GPD has a chance to complete their investigation.
“The DA’s office sent the case back because they wanted some follow-up and additional items looked into,” said Sgt. Kurt Svardal. “We have all intentions to follow through with the case.”
GPD would not say if they are trying to link the suspects to other incidents of vandalism at Del Buono school this summer and spring.
Punishment for the burglary could include up to one year in county jail or state prison for the 18-year-olds.
GPD officers arrested a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old female at the scene with the four adults on Aug. 4.
The teens allegedly set off fire extinguishes in the school’s hallways and restrooms. Footprints found at the site linked one of the suspects to the crime scene, according to police. A fire extinguisher was found in one suspect’s vehicle and the suspects photographed themselves using a digital camera at the scene, according to Sgt. Wes Stanford.
“Some of the suspects admitted to burglarizing the same school at another time,” Stanford said.
Del Buono has seen a string of vandalism incidents recently, as have other Gilroy schools. This spring, student artwork hanging in the hallways and in the administrative offices of Del Buono were ruined by vandals who sprayed fire extinguishers on them. Over the July 4th holiday weekend, the front of Del Buono and a memorial bench were tagged with graffiti. Later in the summer, a tree outside the kindergarten classroom was found littered with condoms and eggs were splattered against the front entranceway.
Gilroy High School’s new synthetic football turf was vandalized before it is even completed. Vandals burned a “G” in the middle of the field the weekend of Aug. 13. Since then new signs have gone up to warn pranksters that they are being watched and will be prosecuted.
“We will press charges,” said Gilroy Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Steve Brinkman last week, of anyone caught committing vandalism or burglary at area schools.
