Teens Enter Plea in School Vandalism
Two teenage boys accused of vandalizing a Hebrew school and painting anti-Semitic graffiti pleaded not guilty Wednesday, prosecutors said.
The youths, ages 14 and 15, entered their pleas before Sylmar Juvenile Court Commissioner Robert Totten. Family members of the boys, whose names are being withheld because they are minors, declined comment afterward.
Both boys are charged with felony burglary and vandalism, with hate-crime allegations for the Sunday break-ins at the West Valley Hebrew Academy and an adjacent French language school in the 5700 block of Oso Avenue.
They allegedly sprayed classrooms with fire extinguishers, broke windows, smashed computers and scrawled religious slurs, swastikas and pentagrams, causing an estimated $50,000 to $100,000 in damage. Police arrested the boys that day.
The 14-year-old boy is also charged with one misdemeanor count of resisting a police officer. Both are in custody at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.
If convicted, the boys face a maximum penalty of detention until age 21, prosecutors said.
Their next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20.
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