Three teens to be charged with fair vandalism

PALMER -- Palmer police are accusing three male juveniles with burglary, criminal mischief and theft in connection with a vandalism spree that took place during the last weekend of November at the Palmer fairgrounds. Police announced Monday that they have forwarded charges in the case to the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice.

The teens -- ages 13, 14 and 17 -- did more than $90,000 worth of damage, according to patrol officer Shayne LaCroix, and will be charged with 13 counts of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree criminal mischief and one count of second-degree theft. Each of the three boys faces the same 15 charges, and all of the crimes they have been charged with are Class C felonies. The names of the juveniles have not been released, and the youths are not in state custody.

"This is one of those cases where everything went the way we like things to go," officer LaCroix said. "We had good co-operation from the community."

The three teens confessed in separate interviews with the police, according to LaCroix. Despite the differences in ages, LaCroix doesn't believe the trio has a ring-leader.

"I think they all three decided together that this is what they were going to do," LaCroix said.

On Monday Dec. 3, Alaska Sate Fair employees discovered the damage. Broken windows were found in several fairground buildings and an ATM kiosk was smashed up, according to police reports. A dozen motor homes and boats that were stored for the winter at the fairgrounds were also vandalized. Windshields were broken and personal items were taken from cabinets and closets and tossed into piles on the floors of the recreational vehicles.

The buildings that were damaged included the Alaska State Troopers' building, the Fair Security Office, the Emergency Medical Services/First Aid Office, the Borealis Theater, the Mat-Su College log building, the Sluice Box, the Hoskins Building, the 4-H Building, an ice cream booth, the farm house and the Irwin Building, where the motor homes and boats are stored.

LaCroix said some victims haven't reported damages in the case yet, so the estimated $90,000 worth of damage could increase. If that happens, the teens could face more serious charges.

"If it goes over $100,000, the charges could be bumped up to criminal mischief one," LaCroix said. First-degree criminal mischief is a class B felony, according to LaCroix.