ILLINOIS COMPUTER THIEVES ARRESTED SJ-R.COM - 3 arrested in UIS vandalism, burglary

Three University of Illinois at Springfield freshmen are in hot water for an alleged vandalism and burglary spree inside a campus building Sunday morning.

The three students were arrested Thursday afternoon and booked into the Sangamon County Jail on criminal damage and burglary charges. They are: Derek D. DeAnda, 19, of Hickory Hills; Jason P. McCleery, 18, of Rushville; and Jeremie C. Morales, 19, of Chicago.

The damage, estimated in the thousands of dollars, occurred throughout the Public Affairs Center.

University officials provided this account:

A fire alarm in the Lincoln Residence Hall, which is freshman and sophomore housing, sounded shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday. Because it was cold and rainy, the students were led to the lower level of the Public Affairs Center to wait until it was determined there was no fire or danger in the residence hall.

While the students were in the center, one of them phoned a friend who lives in Pennyroyal, another student-housing unit, inviting him to join the students waiting at the Public Affairs Center. The Pennyroyal student and two of his friends — all of whom eventually were arrested — went to the center.

About 3:25 a.m., firefighters said the residence hall was clear and allowed the students to return. However, the three Pennyroyal students remained in the center unnoticed.

“While they were there, they went on a rampage on all five floors of the Public Affairs Center,” said university spokeswoman Cheryl Peck.

A police report indicates the men damaged signs and water fountains throughout the building; tried to steal a flat-screen television off the wall near the Food Emporia; stole a variety of equipment, batteries, tools, tapes and other items from the Office of Electronic Media; took an office chair that was in the hallway near an office that was under renovation; removed and crumpled personal photographs from all the frames in an office and threw them on the floor; and stole VCRs, desktop computers, a VHS/DVD player, a computer keyboard and cafeteria trays.

“They would go down the hall and check the doorknobs to see if any offices were open,” Peck said.

The men reportedly used a recycling bin to carry the stolen goods back to the Pennyroyal townhouse.

University police began getting phone calls Sunday morning from people who showed up at the center and discovered the damage and burglarized offices. Reports poured in through Monday morning.

Officers ultimately were able to identify the men from a surveillance camera near the Capital Perks coffee shop on the first level near the Sangamon Auditorium entrance.

Officials still are trying to document all the damage. Peck said everything that was reported stolen has been recovered.

The students were arrested and their parents notified of the situation. Peck said the men have apologized for what happened.

“At this point, discussions will need to take place with the university. We do have a student code of conduct, and it’s the process by which we take disciplinary action,” she said. “Obviously, they are very sorry about what they did. I want to say on behalf of the university and the chancellor that their behavior is very regrettable.”

Peck commended the university police force for its investigation and noted that criminal activity rarely happens on the growing UIS campus.

“We’re very grateful these things don’t happen here very often, thank goodness, and we have a great 24-hour police department,” she said.

Jayette Bolinski can be reached at 788-1530.