DNA evidence leads to arrests in vandalism

Canton- Three teenage boys arrested after DNA evidence led police to them have admitted to vandalizing school buses.

The boys, two age 15 and one 16, on Wednesday pleaded the juvenile equivalent of guilty to seven counts of felony vandalism. They broke about 140 windows in seven Jackson Local School District buses on New Year's Eve.

DNA was collected from beer cans left at the scene and a bloody strip of gauze.

School officials estimated the damage at $10,000.

Stark County Family Court Judge Jim D. James put the boys on probation and ordered them to complete 200 hours of community service at a recycling center.

The teens also were ordered to pay about $580 each in restitution to the school district, have a drug and alcohol assessment and take victim awareness classes.

One of the boys who had a record was also sentenced to 30 days of juvenile detention.