LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A group of vandals left behind a trail of damage and committed theft at Middletown High School early Monday morning, with authorities now seeking leads as to the identities of the suspects.
The vandalism and theft took place on the same night as the annual “senior prank,” which the high school said in a Thursday Facebook post has been an “unsanctioned practice and tradition” at the school for many years.
Based on information provided both by the school and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the pranksters and the vandals appear to be two distinct groups.
“Seniors, towards the end of their senior year, come together and ‘prank’ the school,” wrote Middletown High School Principal Shane Lee in the Thursday post.
“A prank can be defined as ‘a trick that is intended to be funny but not cause harm or damage,’” Lee wrote. “This year’s efforts had some semblance of ‘prank’ with prank-like results. This year’s ‘prank’ also created harm & damage.”
Lee reported that at 11:30 p.m. Sunday up to 25 individuals entered the school campus.
He said they were familiar with the grounds and presumed to be Middletown High School students, and were on the campus for 30 to 45 minutes.
A second and smaller group of individuals came onto the campus at 4 a.m. Monday, and it was that group that appeared to have been behind the damage and destruction to two trees, Lee said.
One of those trees was planted in memory of a Middletown Unified student, Jeni Hall.
Hall, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, died in November of 1984 at age 12. She would have been a part of the high school’s class of 1990.
The memorial tree for Hall was planted in May of 2018. May is Cystic Fibrosis Month.
“MHS administration has been in contact with the family of this student and is aggressively working to locate and confirm the identity of the vandals and destroyers of the tree(s),” Lee wrote on Facebook.
Lee said the school administration contacted law enforcement. “A Sheriff’s Deputy was on site and documented locations and damages,” Lee wrote.
Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed to Lake County News that the vandalism was reported to the agency.
“There was a senior prank earlier in the evening that caused no issue; however, a second group entered the school grounds later in the evening/after midnight and committed theft and vandalism. A deputy went to the school to take a report and talk with staff,” Berlinn said.
Berlinn added, “There are no leads at this time.”
Lee said the high school administration is working with the senior class leadership group, and that replacement trees will be fully funded by the senior class fund. “Monies will be provided to replenish the student fundraising efforts.”
On the district’s end, due to privacy laws, if they identify suspects who are students, Lee said they “cannot disclose specific actions taken towards specific students. Consequences and punitive actions have been implemented.”
Some of the individuals who participated, however, are not believed to have been senior class members, Lee said.
Lee said the high school administration also is working with neighboring businesses to get evidence of possible student activity on their premises the same night.
“MHS administration is continuing to work towards learning more and attempting to discover the identity of the individual(s) who destroyed the trees and removed monies,” Lee wrote.
This wouldn’t be the first time vandalism and damage was reported at the same time as a senior prank.
In 2019, a group was reported to have gone through the campus, spray painting buildings and causing damage, in an incident that was not the planned prank. Those individuals were reportedly caught.
Anyone with information about this week’s theft and vandalism can contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s nonemergency dispatch at 707-263-2690.
The full Facebook post from Middletown High School is published below.
MHS Fact Sheet: "Senior Prank"
MHS “Senior Prank” Incident (5/19/24)
What is the “senior prank” and why does this happen?
The “senior prank” has been an unsanctioned practice and tradition here at MHS for many years. Seniors, towards the end of their senior year, come together and “prank” the school.
What is a “prank” and did this year’s activity fit this definition?
A prank can be defined as “a trick that is intended to be funny but not cause harm or damage”. This year’s efforts had some semblance of “prank” with prank-like results. This year’s “prank” also created harm & damage.
What does MHS/MUSD know about this year’s senior prank as it occurred?
On the evening of 5/19 at approximately 11:30pm, as many as 25 individuals came onto the MHS campus. These individuals were familiar with the grounds and are presumed to be MHS students. The actions took place during the 30-45 minutes. At just after 4:00 am, a smaller group of students entered campus.. It appeared as if this small group was behind damage/destruction to the two trees. One of the trees was planted in memory of an MUSD student. MHS administration has been in contact with the family of this student and is aggressively working to locate and confirm the identity of the vandals and destroyers of the tree(s).
Has local law enforcement been notified of the damages and potential crimes?
Yes. The MHS Administration has established an incident number with law enforcement. A Sheriff’s Deputy was on site and documented locations and damages.
Have arrangements been made to restore trees and monies to the grounds and student group?
Yes. MHS Administration has worked with the MHS Senior Class leadership group. Replacement trees will be fully funded by the Senior Class fund. Monies will be provided to replenish the student fundraising efforts.
Have students been identified and punished for these harmful and damaging actions?
This question does begin to infringe upon student privacy. Due to privacy laws, the district cannot disclose specific actions taken towards specific students. Consequences and punitive actions have been implemented. To provide background information: MHS has 88 seniors. Approximately 25 student-aged individuals showed up for the “Senior Prank” event (some of whom are said to NOT have been seniors). 63 seniors (or more) did not participate in the “Senior Prank” event on 5/19.
What are MHS’ next steps?
MHS administration is working with neighboring businesses to attain any evidence of student activity on their premises during the night / morning of 5/19. MHS administration is continuing to work towards learning more and attempting to discover the identity of the individual(s) who destroyed the trees and removed monies.
-Mr. Lee
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Vandals do damage and commit theft at Middletown High School; memorial tree destroyed
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On