(Jan. 26, 2017) In district court last Friday, Judge Gerald Purnell struck the probation before judgment of Jordan Denton, 20, and reinstated her original sentence, while one of her compatriots in the spraypainting spree that shocked Berlin in 2015 was granted a delay because of a paperwork mix up.
This is the second time Denton and Nicholas Bonser, 19, have appeared in court for probation violations since the pair was convicted in June 2015. An unidentified juvenile also admitted involvement.
Court records show Denton tested positive for both alcohol and marijuana use on Aug. 9, the second time she’s failed this particular screening while on probation.
She then failed to show for treatment twice in August and six times in September.
More recent tests also came back positive for cannabis, but Denton disputed the concentration levels.
Purnell reinstated Denton’s original sentence of 60 days in jail with all but five suspended, as the defendant’s sobs echoed in the chamber.
She agreed to start her incarceration on Jan. 23.
Turning to Bonser, who had been discharged from a drug-and-alcohol treatment program for noncompliance, Purnell rejected his claim that discharged equaled completion. The program was a requirement of his probation.
“I thought I didn’t have to go back,” Bonser said.
Speaking over Denton’s sustained weeping, Purnell said the pair had plenty of opportunity to make things right with the town and system before appearing in court again.
However, neither the state’s attorney, the defendant’s lawyer, the parole officer nor the judge himself had Bonser’s file at hand — a common thread in the cases preceding Bonser and Denton’s last Friday. Purnell granted the defense’s request, joined by the prosecution, for a delay until Feb. 3.
Bonser has completed his community service and paid his share of restitution, according to the court, and Denton has finished her community service, but still owes about half of her share of the restitution. She has until June 2017 to complete the payments.
Both Bonser and Denton faced earlier violation of probation proceedings related to these terms in June 2016. The court ultimately relaxed the conditions of their probation as a result of that hearing.
According to a Berlin Police Department press release following the initial incident, the investigation revealed 36 separate victims, including the town, which had one vehicle, 10 electric meters and four trashcans damaged by the trio.
Three buildings and 33 additional cars were spray painted during the incident that spanned a dozen streets: Ann Court, Ann Drive, Branch Street, Buttercup Court, Harrison Ave, Henry’s Mill, Littleworth Court, North Main Street, Pitts Street, Powell Circle, West Street and William Street.
This is the second time Denton and Nicholas Bonser, 19, have appeared in court for probation violations since the pair was convicted in June 2015. An unidentified juvenile also admitted involvement.
Court records show Denton tested positive for both alcohol and marijuana use on Aug. 9, the second time she’s failed this particular screening while on probation.
She then failed to show for treatment twice in August and six times in September.
More recent tests also came back positive for cannabis, but Denton disputed the concentration levels.
Purnell reinstated Denton’s original sentence of 60 days in jail with all but five suspended, as the defendant’s sobs echoed in the chamber.
She agreed to start her incarceration on Jan. 23.
Turning to Bonser, who had been discharged from a drug-and-alcohol treatment program for noncompliance, Purnell rejected his claim that discharged equaled completion. The program was a requirement of his probation.
“I thought I didn’t have to go back,” Bonser said.
Speaking over Denton’s sustained weeping, Purnell said the pair had plenty of opportunity to make things right with the town and system before appearing in court again.
However, neither the state’s attorney, the defendant’s lawyer, the parole officer nor the judge himself had Bonser’s file at hand — a common thread in the cases preceding Bonser and Denton’s last Friday. Purnell granted the defense’s request, joined by the prosecution, for a delay until Feb. 3.
Bonser has completed his community service and paid his share of restitution, according to the court, and Denton has finished her community service, but still owes about half of her share of the restitution. She has until June 2017 to complete the payments.
Both Bonser and Denton faced earlier violation of probation proceedings related to these terms in June 2016. The court ultimately relaxed the conditions of their probation as a result of that hearing.
According to a Berlin Police Department press release following the initial incident, the investigation revealed 36 separate victims, including the town, which had one vehicle, 10 electric meters and four trashcans damaged by the trio.
Three buildings and 33 additional cars were spray painted during the incident that spanned a dozen streets: Ann Court, Ann Drive, Branch Street, Buttercup Court, Harrison Ave, Henry’s Mill, Littleworth Court, North Main Street, Pitts Street, Powell Circle, West Street and William Street.