Teens see more charges in Monroe vandalism

Teens see more charges
in Monroe vandalism
BY TARA PETERSEN
Staff Writer

MONROE — The four students allegedly responsible for deflating school bus tires are now facing more serious charges.

Two weeks ago, the Monroe Township High School students were charged in connection with the April incident that led to the closing of all township schools for a day. In all, 117 tires on 24 full-size and 10 minibuses were deflated outside the Board of Education offices on Buckelew Avenue. Mechanics completed the repairs by that afternoon.

Monroe Police Sgt. Lawrence Linke said Tuesday that all four students are now being charged with interference with transportation, which he said is a more serious offense than the initial charges. The new charge is a third-degree felony for the adult student and a juvenile complaint for the minors, Linke said.

"After reviewing the file with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, we added [the charge]," Linke said.

One 18-year-old and three 17-year-old Monroe Township High School students were arrested May 24 and 25 after police conducted interviews with the students, parents and others and investigated telephone and computer records, according to Linke.

Police have said that one of the 17-year-old suspects drove the other three to the scene the night of the April 18 vandalism. The driver, a female, was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and was released to the custody of her father.

The students accused of vandalizing the buses include an 18-year-old senior, a 17-year-old junior and a 17-year-old senior whom police did not identify due to their ages. The three were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and criminal mischief, and were initially held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick.

Total damages were estimated to be $907, but the figure does not include any costs incurred with paying staff for the extra time, officials said.

Linke said that once the damages reach at least $500, the criminal mischief charges become fourth-degree offenses rather than disorderly persons.

The day off that students received was made up on May 17, which was originally scheduled as a staff development day.