18 teens charged in vandalism case

Eighteen of the 21 teens allegedly involved in a vandalism event at Flathead High School on May 10 have been charged with misdemeanors in Kalispell Municipal Court.

Assistant City Attorney Emily Von Jentzen said citations for misdemeanor criminal mischief and trespass were mailed out last week to all but three of those believed to have been involved.

Each of the 18 young men — all recent graduates of Flathead High School — was charged with both offenses.

Those charged include Kye M. AuClaire, Joshua M.A. Gilpin, Miles Terry, Cody K. Wiley, Carter J. Warnell, Tyrel D. Snider, Jake Miller, Anthony T. Wright, Joshua B. McCracken, Jace D. Darrow, Lane C. Darrow, Dalton R. Manning, Justin D. Gardner, Colton J. Dugan, Tucker W. Cronk and Bramwell G. Booth Jr., all of Kalispell. Also charged were Szymon Was of Kila and Logan W. DeCock of Lakeside.

“The remaining three individuals involved are pending potential charges with the county,” Von Jentzen said.

County court handles felonies and Youth Court cases. All but one of the students believed to have been involved in the break-in and vandalism were high school seniors who were over 18. Criminal mischief typically becomes a felony when an individual causes more than $1,500 in damage.

School officials estimate the May 10 incident caused a total of $4,000 in damage.

Von Jentzen said that all of the teens cited will appear in court and have the right to dispute the charges.

“We have extended an offer to all involved that would allow them to keep this off their criminal records,” Von Jentzen said.

Prosecutors often offer first-time, low-level offenders similar plea bargains, Von Jentzen said.

The maximum punishment for misdemeanor criminal mischief is a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Criminal trespass carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and six months in jail.

School Resource Officer Cory Clarke has said that the bulk of the damage was done by one or two individuals who showed up to a planned senior prank and took the incident to a new and more destructive level.

The event allegedly started out with the intent to put plastic cups full of water in the hallways of the school, but by the end of the night the prank had grown to water fountains ripped from the walls, a broken statue, a damaged vending machine and trash and paper strewn throughout the building.

Although they received diplomas, the students who participated in the incident were not allowed to participate in their school graduation ceremony on June 4. Some of the students also were suspended from school for between four and nine days.

Those charged have until June 21 to appear in court.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.