3 arrested in school vandalism
Police seeking fourth suspect

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Three teenagers, all local residents, have been arrested in connection with vandalism at Los Alamitos Middle School and Mt. Taylor Elementary School the day after Easter.

A fourth suspect, also a teenager, is on the run and being sought by Grants Police.

Arrested were: Jose Madrid, 15, of the 800 block of Seville Loop; Luis Basurto, 15, of the 600 block of Clovis; and Donovan Armijo, 14, of the 800 block of Clovis, all of Grants.

All were arrested Saturday at their homes on warrants issued by 13th Judicial District Judge Camille Martinez-Olguin.

A warrant has also been issued for the fourth teen.

"The damage to the schools is $12,000" said Grants Police Chief Mary Vigil late Monday afternoon.

"That amount may increase if the schools do a more detailed list. That was the amount the schools reported to us," he said.

The three juveniles made their first appearance before Martinez-Olguin Monday. Armijo and Basurto were placed on house arrest in the custody of their parents. Madrid remained in custody in the juvenile detention center in McKinley County.

Charges against the three are identical, brought by the 13th Judicial District Attorney's office: five counts of commercial burglary, two counts of breaking and entering, two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, two counts of criminal damage to property (over $1,000), two counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of larceny (over $100). Most of these charges are felonies.

The schools were broken into on March 28, the first being Los Alamitos about 12:34 a.m. Mt. Taylor was broken into about six-and-a-half hours later.

Both schools suffered broken outside windows, inside windows, items thrown around inside rooms and in one room at Los Alamitos, a fire extinguisher had been sprayed around the room, according to district court documents.

Court records state several classrooms had been broken into at Los Alamitos.

At Mt. Taylor, the gymnasium had been broken into and several windows broken. Furniture, file cabinets, computers and other items were thrown around on the floor.

All four teens were interviewed by police and three were arrested following those interviews. The fourth has not been located.

The teens were identified by detectives matching shoeprints to those worn by some of the teens and by other police methods, court reports state.

Those same reports indicate the four went on a spree, seeking chips and sodas, and began breaking and throwing items around in the two schools.

A substantial amount of evidence was found at Armijo's home, according to court records.

During their first appearances, Martinez-Olguin told each teen of their rights and told both the teens and their parents that those on house arrest must not make or receive telephone calls, not leave the house except to go to the attorney's office, school if they are still enrolled at school following the incidents to court or the juvenile probation departments.

They were told they may not visit friends or have friends visit them.

"You are under arrest in your house just like in jail," she told each teen.

Each parent was advised that the teen, and each parent, would be arrested and sent to jail, facing a $1,000 fine and 364 days in jail should they allow the teens to leave their homes except for the above conditions, without notifying police immediately.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin@blackmesa-isp.net.