Brother's arrest gives Burlington HS vandalism case a twist

Two recent Burlington Central High School graduates charged with felonies accusing them of defacing the school remain at large, police said Wednesday.

But the older brother of one of the Elgin suspects was arrested on drug charges by officers searching for Tyler Maddox, one of the 18-year-olds accused of vandalizing the high school.

Robert Maddox, 32, of Elgin was charged with felony possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, felony possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

More Coverage Stories Teens wanted in Burlington vandalism turn themselves in

Officers seized more than 100 grams of marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia from 43W905 Plato Road, an address also listed as housing the younger Maddox, said Lt. Pat Gengler, a spokesman with the Kane County sheriff's office.

Neither the younger Maddox nor Christopher S. Strong, the other graduate charged with the high school crimes, was at the residence, Gengler said.

Meanwhile, the elder Maddox posted $2,000 bond Wednesday and is due to appear in court June 16.

"The kids not turning themselves in is now resulting in the arrest of family members," Gengler said. "We wouldn't have been at that house if we weren't looking for them."

Police have been scouring the area for Strong and the younger Maddox since Monday, when the teens didn't turn themselves in over the weekend as initially expected.

Each teen is charged with burglary, criminal damage to state-supported property over $10,000 but under $100,000, and four counts of criminal damage to property -- all of which are felonies.

They face at least a year in prison if convicted on any one of the charges.

The charges came at the conclusion of a sheriff's department probe of a March vandalism spree that resulted in more than $25,000 worth of damage done at the high school.

Several large school windows, several school buses and windows on four private vehicles were all damaged.

School district officials got wind that the pair, members of the Class of 2008, would be charged with the crimes shortly before graduation and banned them from participating in the ceremony held Friday.

Felony warrants have been issued for the pair's arrest and though police continue the search, the teens can always surrender to authorities, Gengler said.

"There won't be any additional charges for them for not turning themselves in," he said.