TRENTON — Three Jones Senior High School students were arrested Tuesday after breaking into the school and stealing various items from a classroom.
A teacher, whose identity was not disclosed in a Jones County Sheriff’s Office press release, watched the three male students on the school’s closed circuit television as they stuffed a bag.
Torrance D. Crouell, 17, and brothers Gary Tyrone Koonce, 17, and Tyler Allen Koonce, 16, all of Trenton, were arrested on a felony charge for breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering. The trio was placed under separate $10,000 secured bonds.
The unnamed teacher alerted deputies around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday after watching the students’ activity on camera. When law enforcement arrived, they, too, were able to observe the students in real time. Deputies found stolen electronics, clothing and candy after closing in on the teenagers, according to the release.
It was not the first time the teacher saw the students inside Jones Senior outside of regular school hours.
“It’s unfortunate that students feel the need to steal from places where they receive their education,” JCSO Capt. Justin Eimer said. “It’s important that teenagers realize that every decision they make has consequences. Any negative decisions that they make will reflect negatively on their future.”
The Free Press contacted Jones Senior officials, but they were not at liberty to discuss the incident at the time due to student confidentiality.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.