3 students face felony charges in computer theft

December 14, 2010
Filed under News, Uncategorized

Three students face felony charges in connection with equipment stolen from the journalism and photojournalism classroom.

Seniors Jamelle Flowers (17), Jamil Sam (18), and Gabriel Breckenridge (18) were arrested Monday and charged with the theft of 27 iMacs that were taken while students and faculty were out for Thanksgiving break. All three have been charged with 3rd degree felony theft of $20,000 to $100,000. Other charges may be added. According to police, the investigation is still pending, and some but not all computers have been recovered.

Flowers, Sam, and Breckenridge were set to graduate this year with two in the hunt for scholarships, playing for the varsity basketball team. Police believe that the theft took place sometime during the holiday break. It is unknown how they got into the school or how the computers were transported.

If convicted, each student faces two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

“I feel like this is a great campus and we’ll overcome this,” Principal Jimmy Neal said, “Sometimes, when faced with adversity it shows true greatness. I just didn’t know what to expect after the thefts because it was being handled by the police. But we need to stay positive because this is only three students out of two thousand and forty.”