HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Law enforcement and school district officials continue to investigate vandalism to a music room at Pretty Prairie High School and have identified four students involved. It is still up in the air whether at least one student can even be prosecuted.
Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder says he has only received a brief narrative of what happened at this point and says he has only been told about three suspects: an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old.
Under Kansas law, Schroeder says he cannot prosecute the 8-year-old. He says that would fall under a child-in-need-of-care case.
“I can’t comment too much on the case because it involves juveniles,” Schroeder said.
The paperwork will eventually be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for possible legal action, however, how that will be handled is unknown.
USD 311 is also taking appropriate action against the students involved. The damage is estimated to be between $50,000 and $75,000, according to the sheriff’s department.
A GoFundMe pagehas raised over $5000 to help the students and school.
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RENO COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and school officials are investigating vandalism at Pretty Prairie High School.
Just after 9:00a.m. Saturday, deputies were dispatched to Pretty Prairie High School for a criminal damage to property case, according to a media release.
Deputies met with Principal Kevin Hedrick who said he was giving a tour of the school to the up-coming freshman class when he noticed the band room had been vandalized. It appears that the school was entered between the hours of 1:00am – 3:00a.m. Saturday.
The entire band room received severe damage. Several different colors of paint were thrown across the floor, walls and over equipment. The majority of the drums, if not all, had holes punched in them. Some of the drum heads had painted hand prints left on them. Several different musical instruments were completely destroyed.
Fire extinguishers were discharged on the building and inside of a recently purchased Van that belonged to the school. Both in the band room and in the van, items within had been thrown around. Although it is going to take a bit to see what if anything has been stolen, we believe items have been taken.
The school gave a rough estimate of damage to be between $50,000 and $75,000 and could be more.
If anyone has information regarding this case please contact the Reno County Sheriff’s Office at 620-694-2735 or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this case.
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RENO COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities and school officials are investigating vandalism at Pretty Prairie High School.
Many instruments were damaged or destroyed in the school’s music room over the weekend, according to the school’s social media page.
Vandals threw paint on pianos and destroyed music instruments along with causing extensive damage to that area of the building.
“We just got permission from the sheriff’s department and from our insurance agency to start the cleanup process and then start the inventory of what’s broken, what’s not, what can be repaired, what can’t,” USD 311 Superintendent Randy Hendrickson said. “Hopefully our goal by the end of the day is to have a list of what we need to get back into the kids hands so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
While the music room was off limits, music classes were moved to the school’s auditorium. Area schools have sent emails and calls of support in an effort to help including Burrton USD 369 who was working to provide students in Pretty Prairie with replacement instruments. They have also volunteered to help restore the school’s music room.
If you would like to help the Pretty Prairie music department you can do so by calling Pretty Prairie High School at 620-459-6313 or the USD 311 offices at 620-459-6241.