Two Hinsdale Central High School Students Found Guilty of Defacing High School Property

School defaced with swastikas, threats and other graffiti

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that the final two of three Hinsdale Central High School Students were found guilty of Criminal Defacement of Property, a Class 4 Felony, for vandalizing the high school earlier this year.  On July 5, 2006 the third student plead guilty to a hate crime for his role in the incident and was sentenced to one year of probation and twenty hours of community service.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. February 21, the three students, all minors, allegedly entered school property near the football field and defaced the wall of the school with anti-Semitic messages, swastikas and other graffiti. 

The three students were charged in Juvenile Court with Hate Crimes – Criminal Damage to Property, Institutional Vandalism and Criminal Defacement of Property. 

“While we respect the Judge’s ruling, this will not change our position that these crimes were rooted in hate,” commented Birkett.  “What these boys did was not just a harmless high school prank.  It was a crime rooted in hatred towards others simply because they were different than these young boys.  It is my sincerest hope that some good will come from this experience for these boys and they will learn to not only tolerate but to embrace people of different backgrounds.”

The minors will remain under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court for one year.  Sentencing for the two minors is scheduled for October 18 at 8:30 a.m. in front of Judge Patrick Leston.

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