Boy Admits Role in Vandalism at School

A 14-year-old who admitted vandalizing a Hebrew academy in Woodland Hills last fall was ordered Wednesday to perform 125 hours of community service and pay undetermined damages, a prosecutor said.

The teen, who was considered primarily responsible for the damage at West Valley Hebrew Academy, was also placed on juvenile probation and ordered to take a tolerance training course, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Carla Arranaga.

Anti-Semitic graffiti, religious slurs, swastikas and pentagrams were painted on walls, and windows and computers were smashed among other damage in classrooms at the Orthodox Jewish school on Oso Avenue.

The youth was returned to his mother’s custody by Sylmar Juvenile Court Commissioner Robert Totten.

“This is an egregious type of crime,” Arranaga said. “It affected not only the school and the students but also the neighboring community.”

Showing remorse during the Juvenile Court proceeding, the boy admitted to three counts of vandalism, two counts of burglary and one count of resisting arrest, Arranaga said.

A 15-year-old boy also involved in the incident was sentenced last week to probation, community service and tolerance training, and will be placed in a group home.

“I’m just thankful there is closure,” said Academy President Alan Shapiro. “Hopefully, it is positive closure.”