By Kate E. Salute
Derek Quintana, 22, of Hewlett, Richard Russo, 21, of Lynbrook and Justin Jean, 25, of West Hempstead were charged with second-degree burglary as well as third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon following an incident on Oct. 5. Quintana and Russo were also charged with third-degree attempted arson.
Police said the three broke into the childhood center, on Meadowview Avenue, at around 4:30 a.m., carrying .22-caliber rifles and a pellet rifle. They entered the center in search of a safe they believed to contain cash, which they intended to steal, according to police. Their attempts were thwarted when the alarms sounded, and the three fled the scene, though not before setting a fire in order, police said, to "destroy any possible evidence linking them to the crime."
"Our schools don't keep money in them," said Richard Hagler, executive officer of the center. "There is no safe. Maybe they could have stolen a crayon, but that's about it."
Police said that two walkie-talkies were stolen from the building, and recovered when they apprehended Quintana, Russo and Jean. With the help of K-9 police, they found Quintana hiding in bushes on Meadowview Avenue, while Jean was arrested on Princeton Avenue and Russo at the scene.
The childhood center declined to press charges, though it plans to let the legal system work. "We're going to let the district attorney do his job," Hagler said. "They will decide the proper punishment for these three.
"They literally damaged a drawer," he added. "Well, as far as the arson goes, a drawer. They broke the screen and jimmied open the window. It is believed that they set fire to a piece of paper when the alarms went off - they got scared put the burning paper in the drawer, and the fire suffocated and went out."
Hagler also said, "According to police, the suspects appeared drunk." However, the public information office at the Fourth Precinct said, "We have no evidence of that."
At the arraignment on Oct. 6, bail was set at $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash for each of the defendants, who are expected back in district court Oct. 11.
Comments about this story? KSalute@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
