I have absolutely zero tolerance for vandalism, so my sympathy meter is at a negative reading on this one.

Three of the five Pilot Point high school students accused of vandalizing a football stadium say the charges they face just don’t fit the crime.

Seniors Steve Stratso, Josh Chacon and Matt Hatten are among five students accused of defacing Massey Stadium on the school’s campus just off Highway 377, and are facing criminal mischief charges.

The three students claim the vandalism started out as an idea for a senior prank; they cemented a basketball goal in the middle of the football field.
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The vandals spray-painted graffiti on the track and field house, making it look like they were from rival Celina High School. They also painted disparaging remarks about Pilot Point coaches.
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Pilot Point school administrators punished the boys with a three-day suspension. Additionally, they each paid $293 in restitution, were banned from attending the prom and had to help clean up the mess. Those who were baseball players were also kicked off the team.
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“I think the punishment fits the crime,” Hatten said. “I think we all agreed on that.”

But, the police still filed charges against them. The teens said it’s double jeopardy.

“Everyone’s going to have their opinion about what we did, but all we can do is work to correct it,” Stratso said. “I think we have without the cops stepping in.”

Two other teens accused of the crime, Britton Foster and Drew Fuller, chose not to talk with News 8 on camera. However, the teens who did said they’ve learned a lesson.

“Not to do stupid stuff, and not to mess with other people’s property,” Chacon said.

Pilot Point police chief James Edland isn’t showing any sympathy for the students. He said a crime was committed in this case, and now that suspects have been charged it’s his responsibility to file those charges with the Denton County District Attorney.

These stupid little wankers destroyed property by CEMENTING a freakin’ basketball goal in the middle of the football field and spray-painting grafitti on the track and fieldhouse.  That kind of thing can end up costing quite a bit of money to fix, so I hope they get the book thrown at them.  I don’t see any “double jeopardy” here.  Punishments for this sort of thing often include both jail time and restitution as well as cleaning up the mess, so there doesn’t seem to be anything inappropriate about criminal charges being filed.