Four teens arrested for burglarizing, damaging Wheeler County school

ALAMO, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Staffers at Wheeler County Middle and High School are picking up the pieces after four teenagers allegedly broke into the school last week.

The teens made their first appearance in front of a judge this afternoon. 

Now the county’s superintendent says he hopes to clear away the damage as soon as possible.

“I don’t necessarily see why people need to rob a school, break into a school,” Superintend Mark Davidson said.
 
Our camera caught the first glimpse of the tearful teens with their heads held down, as they made their way inside the Wheeler County Courthouse. 

18-year-olds Dennis Stephens, Marneikia Treadwell, and Travon Harris are all charged with criminal damage to government property and first degree burglary.

Their bonds are each set at $20,000.

19-year-old Curtavious Gainey faces the same charges.  He was in court on Monday and was denied bond.

This tiny glass shard is what is left after days of clean up. the teens, all from Laurens County, broke in the day before Thanksgiving and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage — also stealing a guitar, speakers, and nearly a $100.

“It’s a senseless crime. It’s going to happen again somewhere. It may happen here, but you we’re going to do everything we can to prevent it from happening,” Davidson said.

Davidson is thanking the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office for the speedy response to the break-in and catching up with the suspects.

Deputies arrested the four suspects in three days.

A feat Sheriff Maurice Johnson is proud of, but is disappointed for the long road ahead.

“That’s our taxpayers’ money. That has to be spent on getting all of the repairs done and it’s just not fair,” Johnson said.

Johnson says one of the suspects left behind a piece of evidence that helped bring the case together.

Davidson is grateful and believes the school is prepared should something like this happen again. 

ALAMO, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Four teenagers are facing charges for burglarizing and damaging Wheeler County Middle/High School.

Wheeler County Sheriff Maurice Johnson tells 41NBC the incident happened on Tuesday, November 25th during Thanksgiving break. He says the suspects broke windows and did “extensive” damage to the school. Johnson says investigators don’t know the cost of the damage.

The sheriff says the suspects also stole money, a guitar, and speakers from the band room.

The sheriff’s office arrested 19-year-old Curtavious Gainey on Saturday. Deputies also arrested 18-year-old Dennis Stephens, 18-year-old Marneikia Denice Treadwell, and 18-year-old Travon Harris. All of the suspects are from Laurens County.

Johnson says the teens are charged with first degree burglary and destruction of government property. They are booked in the Wheeler County jail.

Johnson expressed his gratitude to the deputies who first arrived on the scene and the Alamo Police Department who worked on this case. He also thanked the Lt. Dan Wilcox who spent his Thanksgiving following up leads that lead to these arrests.