8 Rockland vandals pay debt; charges dropped

ROCKLAND – Eight Rockland District High School seniors who were among 14 people who vandalized the school on graduation day met terms set by District Court on Tuesday, resulting in dismissal of charges.

A ninth student, Dustin Stimpson, 18, of Rockland, failed to pay restitution or serve community service established by the SAD 5 board of directors, District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said Tuesday.

Stimpson pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and criminal trespass Tuesday. The court ordered him to pay restitution and a $100 fine for each charge, Rushlau said.

The eight students whose charges were dismissed paid restitution and served community service, Rushlau said.

Four juveniles and one adult who did not attend the high school are believed to have been involved.

Juvenile community corrections officers are still reviewing the juveniles’ cases, Rushlau said.

The nonstudent adult is Christopher L. Simmons, 19, of Rockland. He was arrested earlier this month on a charge of criminal trespass in connection with the vandalism spree. He was released on $600 unsecured bail, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear Aug. 12 in 6th District Court on the charge.

On June 10, 14 people entered the school during the night. Two discharged fire extinguishers while others sprayed shaving cream and silly string throughout the corridors. Baby powder also was sprinkled in the hallways and forced under classroom doors with hair dryers.

Originally, SAD 5 directors set restitution at $600 and community service at 30 hours for the students who discharged fire extinguishers and $400 and 20 hours of community service for those who committed other vandalism.

Initially, the board based the restitution on losing a day’s worth of state subsidy – about $5,000 – for canceling classes that day. However, when the board learned SAD 5 would not lose state aid, it reduced restitution to $63.84 and $42.59 each.