Oldest juvenile sentenced for vandalism spree

NEWPORT — The third and oldest juvenile pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced for his role in a vandalism spree in Newport last July.

Charles J. Castro, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree malicious mischief with damage exceeding $5,000 before Judge Robin McCroskey Tuesday, Nov. 18. He was sentenced to the 30-day maximum sentence, 29 days of which he has already served.

Two other boys have already appeared before McCroskey for taking part in the vandalism, in which more than $10,000 damage was done to vehicles and buildings in late July.

Prosecutor Dolly Hunt said the vandalism was harmful and the effects on the victims have been ongoing.

“A number of victims didn’t have insurance,” she said.

Hunt said she recognized that the emphasis of the juvenile justice system was on rehabilitation, but that there must be accountability as well.

“There has to be accountability and responsibility taken by the offenders in these types of matters,” Hunt said. She said it wasn’t single impulsive act, but a chorus of acts recorded by not only security cameras but on some of the juvenile’s own cell phones.

“I know after speaking with the victims, that they’ve expressed frustration and a feeling of violation and a concern for their safety,” Hunt said. She said it was difficult in cases like Castro’s because since he has no criminal history, the maximum sentence is 30 days.

“That’s the maximum we can give in this case,” she said. In addition to the already served detention time Hunt asked that Castro be sentenced to community custody until he turns 18, six-and-a-half months.

Victim impact statements were read in court as in the previous two juvenile’s cases, many the same.

One woman wrote that when she found out her work van windows were broken, she was frustrated and stressed.

“I needed the van fixed quickly, as I would be using it to drive my products to an event the following weekend,” the statement said. She said that she was a busy small business owner and had to make the time to find affordable windows herself.

She drove to a wrecking yard in Garwood, Idaho, got the windows and replaced them herself. She said the vandalism was not only stressful, but that she also felt violated and unsafe.

Another statement was from a pregnant woman who was two weeks from giving birth when the rear windows of her vehicle and her fiancé’s vehicle were “violently smashed.” She said her fiancé had to miss work to clean the vehicles.

The woman said that the physical, emotional and financial toll of this act of vandalism was significant for both her and her fiancé.

“Preparing to bring a child into the world should be a time of joy and stability,” she wrote. “Not one marked by fear, stress and unnecessary hardship caused by someone else’s reckless actions.”

Defense attorney Brett Billingsly said he hopes that Castro learned a lesson from the impact of the crimes. Castro was getting a break.

The prosecution could have charged multiple crimes instead of just one, which could have ended in more incarceration.

If Castro weren’t in the juvenile justice system, the consequences would have been more severe, Billingsley said. If he commits crime as an adult, “this will be the lightest sentence he ever gets,” he said. Castro had served 29 days and he didn’t know what good another day at Martin Hall would accomplish.

Castro apologized for his actions.

“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to say it so that it feels sincere to the people who were affected by it,” Castro said. “Because I am truly sorry.”

He said it is not the type of person he is or plans to be.

“I guess about all I can really do is ask for their forgiveness,” he said. “And I don’t really know what else to say. But I really am sorry.”

McCroskey told him that she believed him. Castro was the third defendant that she had sentenced, and Castro’s remarks were the first ones she believed.

“But you can sit in front of a judicial officer and say you’re sorry and then turn around and do the same thing again,” McCroskey said.

She asked him what he wanted to do when he grows up.

“Be successful,” Castro said.

McCroskey asked if he had a plan.

“Not one set out yet,” Castro said.

McCroskey asked him what he wanted to do.

“I don’t know,” he said. McCroskey said at least that was an honest answer. “It’s time to start thinking about that,” she said.

She said the probation officers could help him with that. She imposed a curfew and ordered that he be screened for substance abuse disorder.

She told him there would be restitution and that would start him out in the hole, but it was possible for him to pay.

She also warned him that every time he violated probation conditions he was going to be sentenced to the maximum 30 days. She also sentenced Castro to probation for six-anda- half months, until he turns 18.