One teen vandal pays restitution, joins military

Vandalism cases against local teenagers are proceeding through juvenile court, with one defendant paying his share of restitution and now in military basic training.
According to the Rock County Attorney’s Office, Gavyn Boll, 17, paid roughly $1,500 in restitution to be divided among the victims.
Some of Boll’s charges were dismissed as part of that negotiation, said David Owens, assistant county attorney.
“To proceed with those charges against Mr. Boll with the new information received would not have been in the best interests of justice,” he said.
Boll participated in a string of vandalisms with fellow teen Elliot Stoltenberg, who faces both vandalism and felony assault charges.
The boys, along with two younger juveniles, admitted to destroying property in Luverne City Park when it was decorated with lighted holiday displays.
The criminal complaints outline more than a dozen counts of vandalism in varying degrees and assaults that took place in and around the city of Luverne between December 2020 and February 2021.
The assault charges stem from the use of air-gun style, CO2 powered automatic pistols that were used to shoot at individuals. At least one incident involved shooting at a pedestrian from a vehicle.
The same weapons are described in damage to property, much of which involved shooting out windows.
The complaint outlines more than a dozen separate incidents of Luverne residents and business owners reporting damage to vehicles or property by a BB-gun style weapon.
Each juvenile reportedly admitted to one or more of the vandalisms and implicated other juveniles.
Boll left Monday for U.S. Marine Corps basic training in San Diego, California, and Owens said this military experience is factored into legal penalties.
“Most were in agreement that the USMC basic training would be more onerous and rehabilitative than juvenile probation,” Owens said.
“It is my understanding that a drill sergeant, when their craft is applied appropriately, tends to ‘rehabilitate’ people quite well.”
He said the consensus was also that the courts would rather not discourage someone from serving in the military when they admit to wrongdoing.
Owens said the cases involving the other juveniles are still in negotiation, and it’s unclear whether any will proceed to trial.