Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2003
Source: Reporter, The (Fond du Lac, WI)
Copyright: 2003 Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2271
Author: Lee Reinsch

6 FOND DU LAC HIGH SCHOOL BOYS ACCUSED OF STEALING SCIENCE SCALES TO WEIGH
DRUGS

Six Fond du Lac High School boys have been arrested and charged for their
role in stealing over a dozen scales from the science department for use in
weighing drugs.

According to a police report by the Fond du Lac Police Department, the
thefts occurred over the past year and may have involved up to 13 boys.

Two boys, who worked as paid student custodians for the school, were seen on
a surveillance camera stealing the scales and concealing them in their
pants. The stolen scales included nine electronic scales valued at $725 and
seven hand-held scales valued at $417.50. A third student custodian was
fired for his involvement in the scheme.

Fond du Lac police were tipped off to the disappearing scales in November
when Appleton police recovered a scale marked FHS during a drug search of a
group of Fond du Lac boys.

The bust, for possession and use of marijuana and paraphernalia, happened on
College Avenue in Appleton. The boys, all 16 years of age except for one
17-year-old who will be charged as an adult, had been smoking marijuana in a
car en route to a soccer game between Fond du Lac High School and Appleton
West, according to a police report.

Appleton police found a number of plastic and ceramic containers containing
marijuana or its residue along with several marijuana pipes, cigars, a
bottle of vodka and a scale with the initials "FHS" (for Fond du Lac High
School) along with a room number marked on the bottom of the scale.
According to the report by the Appleton Police Department, one of the boys
told an Appleton officer he "stole the scale because he was tired of getting
ripped off" when he bought marijuana.

Because the bust occurred within 1,000 feet of the Appleton Boys & Girls
Club and a youth community center, the penalty for possession of drugs is
higher.

The 17-year-old was placed in the Outagamie County Jail under a $10,000
bond. All of the boys were eventually released to their parents.
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