Three teen-agers were taken into custody by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department Monday and charged with burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the recent break-ins and vandalism at the Levant Consolidated School.

Detective Glenn Ross said a 14-year-old and two 15-year-old boys were released into their parents’ custody Monday afternoon.

Ross said that the three were charged after deputies and detectives conducted a door-to-door check in Levant.

“Citizens of Levant provided information that allowed us to focus in on the appropriate suspects,” Ross said.

Ross said the boys broke into a general store in Levant two weeks ago and stole beer. Ross said the boys drank some of the beer on Tuesday, Aug. 7, and then broke into the school. On Wednesday night more beer was consumed and the boys went back to the school and did further damage, Ross said.

Superintendent Paul Whitney said “The place was just all upside down.”

Ross said the boys caused about $20,000 in damage during the two-day spree.

Most of the damage was done Wednesday when the intruders smashed a copying machine, covered all of the carpets with contact cement and poured it on newly purchased tables. Cleaning fluid was dumped on the floors and blue ink was sprayed onto a pile of books from the library. Two new cassette recorders were taken from the school.

On Tuesday the boys allegedly entered the school kitchen, pulled food from the shelves and sprayed the room with ketchup, mayonnaise and barbecue sauce.

This was not the first time vandals struck the school. Three different juveniles were arrested a few years ago for breaking into the school and causing property damage, Ross said.

Ross said that one of the boys charged Monday had been in trouble with the law before. The other two had no criminal record, he said. He said the boys were unable to provide an explanation for the actions.

Ross said the boys’ parents were cooperative throughout the process and “were instrumental in getting to the bottom of the matter with their children,” said Ross.

The case will be turned over to a juvenile intake worker, Ross said.