CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield teen is facing several felony charges for allegedly breaking into a former school building and causing well over $10,000 worth of damage with five juveniles.
Jonathan E. Albright, 19, is charged by Clearfield Borough police with burglary, conspiracy (two counts), criminal trespass and criminal mischief, all felonies, and related offenses.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were dispatched to a break-in March 25 at the former Third Ward Elementary School in the 200-block of Merrill Street.
Inside the building, officers immediately observed two flush valve pipes from toilets lying in the hallway. “Almost every room in the building was severely damaged,” the affidavit states.
In addition to broken windows, police say light fixtures had been ripped from the ceiling, as well as sinks, baseboard heaters and thermostats ripped from walls.
There were holes that had reportedly been kicked/hit into walls, tiles pulled down from the ceiling and one wall was pushed down where entry was made into another room.
During their on-scene investigation, police reportedly observed derogatory and obscene writings on the walls that were directed towards known individuals and included their phone numbers.
At 1:27 p.m. March 25, a neighbor noticed a glass exterior door was propped against the building and contacted the building owner who responded and discovered the vandalism.
Though a contractor’s official damage estimate won’t be available until a later date, police believe the damage total will be well over $10,000.
The following day, an officer called a number that had been written on one of the walls, which led police to Albright and another teen.
On March 27, police interviewed a 17-year-old girl who at first denied she was inside the former school but who later admitted she was present the day of the afternoon break-in.
When asked if she or others caused damage, she said no claiming it was that way when they got there. But after questioning, she said several of them went inside and began breaking things.
She went on to identify Albright and two juveniles. She said there were two others with them, but she was unable to provide their names.
The girl allegedly admitted to using toilet pipes to break windows and other objects, and indicated two other juveniles did, as well. Police then interviewed Albright.
He said sometime the afternoon of March 25, he was part of group that met up at Sheetz to plan the break-in. He said he used a knife to pop the hinge out of the locked door for them to enter.
Inside Albright allegedly used a toilet pipe to break things, kicked the walls and kicked down one wall that was once a doorway. He identified the five juveniles who were with him.
Albright is also charged with defiant trespass and criminal mischief in a second case and corruption of minors and conspiracy/retail theft in a third case.
He’s being held in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail in the burglary case, $5,000 bail in the retail theft case and $1,000 bail in the trespassing case.
Currently Albright is scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings in all three cases at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 6 during centralized court.