Point Reyes Light - December 21, 2000

Vandals attack Tomales High

By Stephen Barrett

An underage beer party in Tomales got out of hand Friday night when some students vandalized the high school by breaking several windows – including the three windows to principal Terry Hughey’s office – with a golf club and rocks.

"It was a senior prank that went too far," said Sheriff’s deputy Brian Hovey, who estimated that the damage will cost $5,000 to $7,000 to repair. Roughly 10 youths were involved, he added.

A 17-year-old student has admitted to breaking several of the windows and was cited to the Sheriff’s juvenile division, Hovey said.

The Sheriff’s department is still looking into the incident to determine who else was involved and who was responsible for providing a keg of beer to the youths, who were partying at the home of another student whose parents were away, Hovey explained.

The 17-year-old student who admitted to breaking the windows said he was too drunk to recall specific details of the incident, Hovey said.

The vandalism occured at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday and was reported by Principal Hughey at 8 a.m. Monday.

Superintendent Stephen Rosenthal described the vandalism as "an unfortunate incident" that is being reviewed by school officials.

The 17-year-old student will be held responsible for the cost of replacing the windows and faces disciplinary measures from the school, Hovey said.

The deputy added that parents should think twice before allowing their underage children to drink beer or other alcoholic beverages. "Alcohol is a drug, and some people don’t realize that... when they give alcohol [to juveniles]," he said.

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