Six children in Ohio are being accused of breaking into a middle school multiple times. The children targeted Creekside Middle School three times in one week, causing around $80,000 in damages. It remains unclear what might have possessed the children to do such a thing or how they were able to execute their plan — more than once — before being caught. But now, most of them could end up spending time in juvenile detention. Currently, police have no plans to charge their parents.
Five of the children, who are between ages 9 and 11, are facing felony-level vandalism and breaking-and-entering charges, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Police say the pint-sized criminals forced access to the middle school wrestling room three times over the span of a week. They first broke in on September 19, 2025, and returned on September 23 and September 24.
According to an incident report, the children used a hose to flood the room, causing “severe and permanent damage” to wrestling mats on two different days. They also threw sports equipment around the room, broke a weight scale, and stole several things.
A 6-year-old child also participated in the vandalism, but that child is not facing charges, the newspaper reported.
“After thorough discussions among the police department, school district, and prosecutor’s office, it was determined that filing criminal charges was appropriate,” Police Chief Stephen Maynard noted in a statement shared by WXIX. “The decision was guided by the need to hold the students accountable, pursue restitution, and send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.”
According to reports, the children were read their rights in front of their parents. Each admitted they committed the acts of vandalism, according to WXIX. The kids have been charged with fourth- and fifth-degree felonies. Per the outlet, felonies of the third, fourth, and fifth degree require at least six months of time detention with the Ohio Department of Youth Services.
“It’s just too much. The young folks out here, no direction, no sense of nothing. They just don’t care, but it’s sad because it starts at home,” Creekside Middle School parent Thomas Phillips told WLWT. “At one point, you’re going to have to charge the kids. You want to do adult things, they’re going to treat you like an adult. But it’s sad. Nine and a 10-year-old? That’s bad.”
Fairfield, Ohio student, Mya Ramirez initially thought older students were involved, per WLWT. “I thought it was middle schoolers that did it. Thirteen, 14,” she said. “My mom would’ve disciplined me really thoroughly for that.”
