Jonathan Michael Allen, 18, is facing a second-degree burglary charge, according to court records. If convicted, he could face two to seven years in prison.
At about 6:15 a.m. on May 22 a report was made to the Sallisaw Police Department that Sallisaw High School was broken into. After making entry, the suspects broke into the library and pushed over several book shelves, causing damage to the shelves and books, police reported.
Detective John Weber later spoke with a high school official, who said that he had suspicions that two students may have somehow been involved and asked Weber and Detective Sandra Girdner to speak with the two.
Weber reported that they met with one of the two suspects, a 17-year-old, and asked if he had any knowledge of the school being broken into. He said no.
Police later spoke with Allen, who allegedly admitted to being involved in the burglary, along with four other students at the school, including Corey Kennedy, Tanyon Helzer, and two juveniles. Allen said he got off work and called one of the other teens, a juvenile, who told Allen he was attempting to break into the high school and asked him to come to the high school. Allen said he met Kennedy and Helzer and the two dropped Allen off at the school, where he met up with the two juveniles.
Allen told police that one of the teens used a device that broke out a window and he made entry into the school and unlocked the door for the other two. While inside, Allen said the three of them broke into the library and vandalized the high school. The vandalism consisted of knocking over the library shelves and books, police indicated in the report.
Kennedy and Helzer were interviewed by police and allegedly said they were involved in the burglary, but had no idea that the school was vandalized until after the fact.
All five suspects were arrested and taken to the city jail. Police attempted to speak with the two underage teens, but their parents said that they would not be making a statement until they had legal counsel present.
As of Thursday, no charges had been filed against Kennedy or Helzer.
