Boy Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing School

One of two teenage boys responsible for trashing West Valley Hebrew Academy in Woodland Hills last fall pleaded guilty to a felony vandalism hate crime charge Tuesday in Sylmar Juvenile Court.

Superior Court Referee John Paventi sentenced the 15-year-old Valley resident to three years and eight months of probation, 200 hours of community service, a 10-week tolerance training course and a stay in a group home, the length of which will be determined by the boy’s behavior.

The youth, who has already spent four months in Juvenile Hall, also agreed to write a letter of apology to the school and pay for repairs, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lisa Daruty said.

The boy and a 14-year-old acquaintance caused $25,000 to $30,000 in damage at the religious school Sept. 24, trashing classrooms and spray-painting swastikas on the walls, Daruty said.

The 14-year-old, who pleaded guilty Dec. 4 to felony vandalism and burglary charges is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 31. Daruty said that he has been deemed “more culpable” for the incident and will probably face a stiffer sentence.

Rabbi Zvi Block, the educational director of the academy, said he was pleased with the 15-year-old’s sentence.

“It was apparent that there was malicious bigotry involved here to disparage a particular religion,” he said. “This will send out a message that this kind of behavior is abhorrent.”