Charges pending for vandalism

Two Berkeley Springs High School students and two others will face charges of felony destruction of property, breaking and entering and trespassing in a September 8 vandalism incident at the high school football field.

As of Tuesday, police had not released the names of the non-student adults involved in the incident.

The four suspects allegedly dumped full trash cans on the school's football field and drove a school golf cart into Warm Springs Run in the early hours after a football game. They're also being accused of breaking into the concession stand at the sports field, stealing food and vandalizing the building, said police.

High school officer Deputy Kevin Barney said video cameras show a fifth person involved in the incident. Police are still trying to identify that person.

Students not expelled

The two female high school students accused of participating in the vandalism were suspended from school on September 10 for 10 days, but school officials won't recommend expulsion for the teens, said Superintendent David Banks.

"I think we can provide consequences that are more appropriate to the offense committed," said Banks, who pointed out that the girls will have to face legal consequences for the charges while they remain in school. He declined to specify what in-school punishments the students might face.

"We don't want this to happen again. We have a lot of resources in the community to help provide appropriate consequences for these students," Banks said.