Two Florida Middle Schoolers Face Juvenile Charges After Library Vandalism

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, have been charged with multiple offenses after causing over $50,000 in damage to the media center at Friendship Elementary School in Deltona, Florida. According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the youths—Felix Cohen Romero and Bentley Ryan Wehrly—were identified following tips from their own mothers, who recognized their children in surveillance footage.

The incident occurred on September 13, with the boys returning later that night to further damage the library. Deputies responding to a fire alarm found the media center vandalized, with books scattered, furniture overturned, and graffiti present.

The boys have confessed to burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief, and theft. While many praised the mothers’ decision to report their children as a difficult but necessary act of accountability, others expressed concern about the impact of juvenile records at such a young age.

The case has ignited debate over the roles of parents, schools, and communities in preventing juvenile delinquency, with suggestions for restorative justice approaches like supervised cleanup and public apologies.