Two additional arrests were made Monday night in connection with vandalism at Avenal Elementary School that occurred over the weekend, marking the sixth and seventh arrests in connection with the crimes. A group of 10- to 12-year-old children broke into Avenal Elementary School on Sunday, causing $250,000 worth of damage. Five of the school's current or former students -- including two sets of brothers -- were arrested in connection with the vandalism.

During interviews with the arrested boys, two adult suspects emerged. One of the pairs of brothers revealed details about bringing a stolen laptop home. The brothers revealed to their mother and stepfather that they had taken the laptop from the school. Instead of contacting law enforcement, the mother, 37-year-old Belem Moreno, and stepfather, 44-year-old Martin Sandoval, assisted the juveniles in wiping fingerprints off the laptop and transporting it to a remote location to hide it behind a tree.

The laptop was recovered after the boys retraced their route for Kings County Sheriff's Office detectives.

Moreno and Sandoval were arrested at their home. Moreno was booked into Kings County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property and accessory to a crime. Her bail was set at $25,000, which she posted soon after her arrest.

Sandoval was booked into the Kings County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property, accessory to a crime, and committing a crime while out on bail for another crime. He was most recently arrested on charges of criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon, but he has a prior record beyond that, Avenal Substation Cmdr. David Putnam said. Sandoval's bail was set at $125,000.

The school's custodians discovered early Monday damages caused by vandalism, burglary and arson. The suspects damaged or destroyed photocopy machines, at least 25 computers, fax machines, printers and TVs.

Most of the school's classrooms and halls were left with paint, glue, food and other classroom materials covering the floors. The paint and glue caused considerable damage to carpets, linoleum and walls. Deputies also found that a fire was started inside the main school building, though the flames died before causing much damage.

Some of the arrested boys admitted to not liking specific teachers, and damaging their respective classrooms more extensively, but Cmdr. Putnam classified the boys' crimes mainly as "malicious mischief."

Detectives are still waiting on the school's officials to complete an inventory, though, at this point, they believe the laptop was the only property stolen, Cmdr. Putnam said. He added that the boys will likely stand before a judge on Wednesday, after which point more information about the length of their sentences may be available.

Cmdr. Putnam said he believes all necessary arrests have been made, though detectives are "still actively investigating" the crimes.

Clean up from the damage will be a long process, but it has begun.

"We have had a great community effort out here to help clean up the school," Cmdr. Putnam said.

Suzanne Monroe, superintendent of Reef-Sunset Unified School District, said the school has received offers to help clean up, as well as offers of donations, from residents of Avenal and Coalinga, as well as surrounding communities.

"The custodial crew has done a marvelous job in getting in and getting the initial clean up done," Monroe said Tuesday afternoon. "Things look much better at this time today than at this time yesterday."

But several weeks of repainting, recarpeting and repairing linoleum are still to come. Monroe said the clean-up efforts should be complete in enough time to begin the 2008-2009 school year as planned, and most of the damages should be covered by insurance.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(July 9. 2008)