advertisement

4 charged in Wasco burglaries, vandalism

Arrest warrants have been issued for four people in the December burglary and vandalism of Wasco Elementary School and Wasco Nursery and Garden Center in Campton Hills.

William J. Donlevy, 18, and Kyle J. Wandle, 19, both of Campton Hills, and Nicholas P. Zamecnik, 18, of Elburn already faced charges for vandalism at the Otter Cove Aquatic Park in St. Charles and other offices at James O. Breen Park at Campton Hills and Peck roads.

Jacob Principato, 18, of South Elgin, is charged with the two Wasco incidents.

Campton Hills Police Chief Dan Hoffman said arrest warrants were issued Thursday afternoon for the four suspects and authorities were working with their attorneys to have them surrender.

Authorities have suggested the crimes were committed more out of boredom or an adrenaline rush rather than to outright burglarize goods.

"None of these guys had any contact with police prior to this," Hoffman said. "They haven't turned themselves in yet. Their attorneys know about this."

Hoffman issued a news release detailing the charges, saying the four are charged with burglaries to the grade school at 4N782 School St., and the nursery at 41W781 Route 64, and multiple concession stands in several parks around the village between October and December 2015. Hoffman said authorities used surveillance video from Otter Park to help investigate the Wasco crimes. He estimated damage at the school to be about $9,000, and police found tools from the nursery, as well as safes from the concession stands, in one of the defendants' homes.

Donlevy lives on the 4N700 block of Chaffield Drive, Zamecnik is of the 41W400 block of Forest Lane, Wandle is of the 4N800 block of East Mary Drive, Campton Hills, and Principato lives on Sutton Drive.

All face charges of felony burglary, criminal damage to state supported property and criminal damages to property, police said. Donlevy and Zamecnik face seven counts each of burglary, and Wandle and Principato are charged with five and two counts of burglary, respectively.

Wandle is due in court Feb. 24 and Donlevy and Zamecnik are due in court Feb. 25. Principato's next court date was not immediately available.

If convicted, each faces up to seven years in prison on the burglary charges and up to five years on the criminal damage to state-supported property. Probation, fines and restitution are also options.

Teens charged with vandalism at St. Charles facilities

William Donlevy
Nicholas Zamecnik
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.