Teens admit to break-in, vandalism

SANDPOINT - Two teens accused of breaking into Sandpoint High School and vandalizing it admitted culpability to amended charges on Tuesday.

William Henry Jones and Conner Alex Thompson are scheduled to be sentenced in Bonner County Juvenile Court on Aug. 4. They pleaded to amended charges of burglary to commit a felony and aiding and abetting one another in malicious injury to property at the misdemeanor level.

Jones, 16, and Thompson, 15, were originally charged with burglary with intent to commit theft and felony malicious injury to property. Charging documents state $2,347.97 in damage was done during the May 7 break-in.

A fire extinguisher was discharged in the building and computer monitors were doused with soda, battered and defaced with permanent markers, according to court documents.

The duo gained entry to the building by breaking a window, Sandpoint Police reports said. The two became suspects in the break-in after school officials received a series of anonymous tips.

The teens were further implicated via surveillance footage and because footprints at the scene were matched to their shoes, court records indicate.

Thompson told Judge Lori Meulenberg during Tuesday's adjudicatory hearing that they broke into the school to retaliate against a teacher whom they believed had a vendetta against them, according to court records.

Jones advised the court that he planned to get a job in order to pay for the damage done to the school.