Juveniles charged in Clinton burglaries

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By Steven Martens | Friday, August 22, 2008 2:05 AM CDT | () comments

CLINTON, Iowa — Some of the victims of a string of Clinton burglaries that included

13 businesses and six churches expressed their thanks to police Thursday after the announcement that two juveniles had been charged with the crimes.

Police charged Austin Michael Schnitzler, 15, and Juan Carlos Hernandez, 14, both of Clinton, with multiple charges of third-degree burglary for the break-ins that occurred between July 12 and Aug. 3.

Schnitzler pleaded guilty this week to 19 counts of third-degree burglary and was ordered Thursday in juvenile court to spend an indefinite term of at least six months in a juvenile detention facility, Assistant Clinton County Attorney Cheryl Newport said. Additional charges of interference with official acts and possession of marijuana were dismissed.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to one of 20 counts of third-degree burglary and one count of unlawful possession of prescription drugs in connection with an Aug. 12 burglary at a residence at 2006 N. 6th St. The other charges have not been

adjudicated.

A third teen, Travis Dean Hammond, 17, also was charged with third-degree burglary in connection with the residential break-in, but his case has not been handled yet, Newport said. Schnitzler was not charged in connection with the residential burglary.

The burglary charges are felonies.

Lisa Miskowiec, owner of the Mississippi Valley Athletic Training Center at 1201 S. 17th St., said about $100 in petty cash and a laptop computer were taken from her business July 12. While she wishes she had her laptop back, Miskowiec said she was grateful that she did not have any of her financial records on the computer.

She said it appeared nearly every piece of paper in the building ended up on the floor during the burglary.

“It seems like if you’re going to steal stuff, steal it,” she said, “but you don’t have to make a big mess.”

Susan Peters, spiritual leader at the Unity Center of Clinton at 256 5th Ave. S., said about $100 was taken from the church July 31. She said she was glad arrests had been made.

“The police did very, very good work,” she said.

After seven burglaries took place between July 12 and 16, investigators from the Clinton Police Department believed Schnitzler to be a suspect. He was picked up by police for smoking on July 18 while wearing shoes that were similar to those investigators believed were worn at the scene of the burglaries based on footprint evidence, according to court records.

When he was interviewed by police July 18, Schnitzler gave a detailed statement about how and when he had committed the seven burglaries, according to court records. He told police he sold the items and spent the money to buy marijuana, which he then sold. He was charged and released to the custody of his father.

The remaining burglaries were committed after Schnitzler was released.

Police executed a search warrant at Schnitzler’s home Aug. 5 and found clothing, footwear and property that linked Hernandez to the burglaries, according to court records.

Hernandez was taken into custody after a neighbor who was house-sitting the home at 2006 N. 6th St. spotted a juvenile leaving the home about 10 p.m. Aug. 12, according to court records. Officers investigated and found the home ransacked.

Victims of crime

These churches, businesses and homes in Clinton reported burglaries between July 12 and Aug. 13:

Mississippi Valley Athletic Training Center, 1201 S. 17th St., July 12.

Vitale’s Pizza, 1134 Camanche Ave., July 12.

Electric Service of Clinton, 1115 S. 14th St., July 15.

Allstate Insurance, 1104 S. 14th St., July 15.

Detterman Inc., 1547 12th Ave. S., July 15.

Impact Martial Arts, 1415 12th Ave. S., July 15.

Dancemakers Studio, 1626 12th Ave. S., July 15.

Paul’s Tap, 1106 S. 8th St., July 22.

Cornerstone Wellness Center, 1523 S. Bluff Blvd., July 22.

Bob’s 1-Stop Auto Center, 1529 S. Bluff Blvd., July 22.

Two Hill’s Bar & Grill, 1516 Camanche Ave., July 22.

Susan’s South 8th Street Salon, 1110 S. 8th St., July 24.

Calvary Baptist Church, 1619 2nd Ave. S. July 24.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 416 Main Ave., July 24.

Unity Center of Clinton, 526 5th Ave. S., July 31.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 505 9th Ave. S., July 31.

First Baptist Church, 2020 N. 3rd St., July 28.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, 819 S. 5th St., July 31.

Gary Foster CPA, 2148 Camanche Ave., Aug. 3.

A residence in 2000 block N. 6th St., Aug. 12.

Source: Clinton Police

Department

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.

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