Two Harvey, Ill., juveniles who were part of a sophisticated burglary ring have been committed to Indiana Boys School for their part in the burglary on Jan. 15 of the Cartronix store at 2912 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso.

According to court documents, Sonny Jackson Jr., 17, and Dashonti J. Wiley, 16, were apprehended after the burglary and admitted their involvement in it. In her ruling Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper cited the seriousness of the crime, the fact that neither boy has adequate parental supervision, and that neither exhibited any remorse.

“The court finds that commitment to the Department of Correction, Indiana Boys School, is proper and necessary for the safety of the community and in the best interest of the juvenile,” Harper wrote in her ruling.

Jackson and Wiley both advised investigators that they participated in a burglary ring based on the South Side of Chicago which typically committed a job every other night. They would be told what business they would be burglarizing and how much they would be paid, were instructed to get into the store and out of it as quickly as possible, and while in the store were told by another party in a separate vehicle what merchandise to take and what to leave. In addition, they used in-vehicle navigation systems to find back roads and avoid apprehension.

After a burglary, Jackson and Wiley advised investigators, they would meet at a residence in Harvey and receive payment.

On one occasion, Wiley advised investigators, he was involved in a burglary of a Radio Shack in Milwaukee, Wis., with another person when they crashed their van while being chased by police. They managed to elude officers and a member of the gang later drove to Milwaukee to pick them up.

Jackson and Wiley are currently in custody at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Snow told the Chesterton Tribune today that they will probably be transported to Indiana Boys School on Thursday.

Posted 3/13/2008