Teen facing charges in reptile theft
recordnet.com
By Francis P. Garland
Lode Bureau Chief
Published Friday, November 19, 2004
ANGELS CAMP -- A 15-year-old boy is facing four felony charges and more arrests are expected in connection with last weekend's break-in and reptile theft at Mark Twain Elementary School.
Angels Camp Police Chief Tony Tacheira said the boy, an Angels Camp resident, was arrested Wednesday and referred to the Calaveras County Probation Department, which cited him and released him to his parents.
Tacheira said the boy was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, grand theft and vandalism.
Rich Manders, assistant chief of the Probation Department, said he believed the district attorney would pursue criminal charges, based on what he knows of the case. But he couldn't yet say what those charges would be, because he is waiting for the law enforcement report.
"But I'm confident this is a matter we'll be going to court on," Manders said.
Tacheira said the investigation is ongoing and he expects to make other arrests.
Tacheira said two of the five reptiles taken in the break-in -- a bearded dragon named Puff and a ball python snake named Monty Bob -- were recovered.
The reptiles belonged to science teacher Ken Swanner, who had been using them in his classroom as reward incentives and learning tools.
Tacheira said police hoped to recover the remaining missing reptiles -- a second bearded dragon named Poof, a black Mexican king snake named Ebony and a California king snake dubbed Stinky -- within a couple of days.
A school janitor discovered the break-in Sunday morning and immediately notified police.
School officials said three windows were broken and several of the animals' aquariums and other items were destroyed or damaged.
Tacheira said police Detective Steve Poortinga and Rodney Peterson, the school resource officer, were greatly aided by tips from local residents who had read about the incident.
"We're a county known for its nature and love of wildlife, and people were offended by this," Tacheira said. "It was more than just the fact that someone broke into a school. It was the fact that they took something away from the students that they had a genuine affection for."
The incident also upset students, some of whom launched a fund-raising drive to replace the reptiles and their homes.
Ruben Montez, a seventh-grader, said he was "really bummed out" when he found out what happened to Poof, Puff, Stinky and the others.
"They were cool," Montez said. "They were just slimy and fun to hold. And they were used to having people around them, so they were friendly."
News of the theft prompted numerous calls to police and to the school, and many people offered to donate their own reptiles, Principal Karl Keller said.
The Angels Camp Police Explorers club donated $500 to help replace tanks, heaters, lights and other equipment.
* To reach Lode Bureau Chief
Francis P. Garland, phone
(209) 736-9554 or e-mail
fgarland@recordnet.com
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