FORNEY, Texas — Four suspects have surrendered to police in connection with a series of burglaries at Forney High School and North Forney High School.
FORNEY, Texas — Four suspects have surrendered to police in connection with a series of burglaries at Forney High School and North Forney High School.
The suspects were identified by police earlier this month after two fled from police on foot during a burglary at Forney High School — leaving their vehicle behind.
Earlier this week, police issued warrants for the arrest of 18-year-old Louis Miguel Gazzia, 18-year-old Melvin Jacob, 17-year-old Clayton Richard Weaver, and 17-year-old Jason Alfredo Trigueros. Each, described by police as current or graduated North Forney High School students, turned themselves in following the issuance of the warrants.
Authorities from the Forney Police Department and Kaufman County Sheriff’s Officer were investigating at least three incidents at Forney High School and three to four at North Forney High School, respectively.
Investigators believe a set of keys was stolen around the first week of the summer which the individuals used to access the two campuses on multiple occasions.
Cash was stolen from North Forney High School in one incident and was used to purchase, among other things, fuel, food, clothing, and tennis shoes. Most of the recoverable items have been recovered, according to Forney Police Department Captain Jason “Rocky” Ray.
Some of the cash, if not all, is reportedly money students paid for reserved parking spaces.
Ray says the incidents at Forney High School date back to the beginning of August, and possibly earlier.
The four are also suspected of entering North Forney High School in one incident to play soccer.
The stolen set of keys has since been recovered, according to Ray.
In addition to the criminal charges, returning students will likely be placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) according to terms outlined in the Forney Independent School District’s Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, according to a district representative.
Weaver and Trigueros turned themselves into the Forney Police Department and were later transferred to the Kaufman County Jail where they were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, with a $10,000 bond, and burglary of a building, with a $5,000 bond. Trigueros was released after posting bond.
Jacob and Gazzia turned themselves into the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office and each faces two counts of burglary of a building, engaging in organized criminal activity, and evading arrest or detention. Gazzia was released after posting a total of $22,500 in bonds. Jacob, at the time of press, was awaiting arraignment on the charges.
A fifth juvenile who was identified early in the investigation is not being charged at this time, according to police.
