In late December Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies Tim Roberts & Dan Deering obtained petitions for two juveniles allegedly involved in several crimes in Parma and Sandstone Township. The initial investigation stemmed from a break-in at the Parma branch of the Jackson District Library in June.  Two juvenile suspects were identified and charged after months of investigative work and finally a tip in November.

The two suspects, a 13 year old Sandstone Township resident and a 14 year old Parma Township resident, are alleged to have broke into the Parma Township Branch of the Jackson District Library on June 18, 2012. The suspects stole a parent’s vehicle and drove to the library where they took a small amount of cash and electronic equipment. After leaving the library the juveniles drove to the 6000 block of North Parma Road where they broke into a barn and stole two rifles. The Parma Road incident was reported to and investigated by the Michigan State Police. 

On September 10, 2012 the suspects again stole a parent’s vehicle and broke into the Parma Township Branch of the Jackson District Library. The juveniles took a safe from the library that contained a small amount of cash and electronic equipment. The suspects drove to a relative’s farm on Brown Road and took a shotgun without the owner’s knowledge. The juveniles then drove to a different farm on Stepladder Road and shot a cow several times with the shotgun using buckshot ammunition. The cow survived the initial incident; however it succumbed to the injuries a few days later.  This crime was reported to the Sheriff’s Office the morning the livestock owner found the cow.

Sheriff Steve Rand commended not only Deputy Dan Deering & Tim Roberts but Deputies Tony McNeil & Tom Jaakkola for their complete dedication, communication and constant contact with this case.  These charges are a direct result of these Deputies dedication and desire to see this case through continued Rand.

The Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office authorized juvenile petitions and has charged both juveniles with two counts of Breaking and Entering a 10 year felony, Safe Breaking a Life offense, and Killing/Torturing an Animal a 4 year felony.