Cortez boys nabbed in petty thefts

Cortez boys nabbed in petty thefts

Jan. 4, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Four local minors may face major criminal charges following a holiday crime spree ending on New Year’s Eve.

Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane said four boys, ages 13, 13, 12 and 10, are responsible for a rash of vandalisms and burglaries around town over the past week and a half.

The four were nabbed late on Dec. 31 in Cortez.

"We got them on a traffic violation," Lane said. "They were driving with no taillight."

He said one of the 13-year-olds was driving his parents’ vehicle at the time of arrest and that the mother of one of the youths was in the car when they were pulled over.

Lane said evidence left at a number of the scenes, including shoe prints, led to the arrests.

The boys allegedly were involved in 15 incidents, including acts of vandalism and burglary at an elementary school, several local businesses and one private residence.

In the majority of the cases, doors were pried open and windows broken in order to gain entry. On several instances, the boys never gained access, only leaving behind damaged dead bolts and a trail of evidence, according to police.

At one of their last stops, Manaugh Elementary, the boys allegedly broke into 10 rooms, damaging a television and a computer as well as stealing money from a cash box in the kitchen and a money bag from the main office.

According to the report, the perpetrators left behind shoe prints, a granola bar, a flat-topped screw driver and four walkie-talkies.

Among the businesses targeted by the youths were Farmers’ Insurance, CO-West Insurance, 1st Street Car Wash, Cortez Barber Shop and Community Connections.

Lane said none of the boys had been in trouble with the law prior to their arrests, and said they had already confessed to the crimes.

"This was their first attempt at working on the dark side," Lane said.

He said the boys were brought in for questioning and then released to their parents.

The information and evidence will be turned over to the district attorney’s office and handled from there, Lane said.

District Attorney-elect Joe Olt said he had not been briefed about the incidents since he has not officially taken office.

However, Olt said these types of incidents support his argument that Cortez is in need of a youth court to address minors separately and in a manner that encourages them to learn from their actions.

"It’s paramount in my opinion," Olt said.

District Attorney Mike Green was unavailable for comment.

Re-1 Superintendent Bill Thompson said he was not sure if the schools were going to be getting involved in disciplinary actions. Thompson said the law allows the schools to become involved if "the action, on or off school property, is detrimental to the health and safety of the student, other students, staff, faculty or school property."

He said he wasn’t sure if the code was directly applicable in these circumstances, but because a school was targeted by the boys’ criminal mischief, there was a possibility the schools would have means to take action other than simply pressing vandalism charges.

"I’m going to meet with the other school officials once school starts back up," Thompson said.

He added that over the holidays and other times children aren’t at school, parents need to keep aware of their children’s activities, even though it isn’t always easy.

"Parents need to make sure they know what their kids are doing," Thompson said. "They also need to know what the kids are bringing home and if they have the financial means to afford those things."