Teens wanted in Burlington vandalism turn themselves in

Any suggestion that two recent Burlington Central High School graduates wanted on felony vandalism charges were evading arrest is completely false, their attorney said Thursday.

Kathleen Colton says her clients were following her counsel -- and authorities knew that, she said.

Christopher S. Strong, 18, of 43W905 Plato Road, and Tyler W. Maddox, 18, of 42W991 Plato Road, were booked Wednesday and each charged with burglary, criminal damage to state-supported property over $10,000 but under $100,000, and four counts of criminal damage to property.

The Elgin teens face more than a year in prison if found guilty on any one of charges.

More Coverage Stories Brother's arrest gives Central HS vandalism case a twist

Police say Maddox and Strong were supposed to turn themselves in over the weekend and officers began looking for them when they did not show up.

But Colton says her clients were not directly asked to surrender, are new to the justice system and therefore weren't aware they were being charged with any crimes.

They were confused, for example, when they were questioned last Tuesday about the incident at the high school yet not arrested on the spot, she said.

On Friday, the same day Colton says the teens' families contacted her, she found out Strong and Maddox were being charged.

But there was no information about felony warrants issued in the teenagers' names and her clients weren't aware police were looking for them, she said.

Knowing they had been charged, Colton spent the rest of the day making arrangements with the Kane County state's attorney office for the teens to surrender themselves in open court during their bond reduction hearing, she said.

That hearing took place Wednesday morning and resulted in their bond being reduced from $6,000 each to $2,000 each, and police booked her clients afterward, she said.

Maddox and Strong were not avoiding prosecution, she said, they were merely following her instructions, with the state's knowledge.

"They had no experience in the criminal justice system," she said. "I took the legal steps necessary to find out what was going on and arranged for the court files to be present so I could present (the teenagers) to the judge."

Strong and Maddox are accused of a March vandalism rampage at the high school that police say caused more than $25,000 in damage.

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

School district officials learned that the pair, members of the Class of 2008, would be charged with the crimes shortly before graduation and banned them from walking in the ceremony held last week.

Police say felony warrants were issued May 29 for the pair they say had been at large since last week.

In a strange twist, while searching for Tyler Maddox Tuesday, police arrested his older brother Robert on a trio of drug charges.

Robert Maddox, 32, is charged with felony possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, felony possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

His court appearance is scheduled for June 16.

Meanwhile, Strong and the younger Maddox, who Colton says plan on attending Elgin Community College in the fall, are due to appear in court Aug. 13.

Colton says she doesn't yet have enough information available to determine how they'll plea.