DELTONA, FLORIDA — Two Florida boys, aged just 12 and 13, are facing a slate of serious criminal charges after their own mothers provided the crucial tips that led to their identification and subsequent arrest. The pre-teens are accused of breaking into Friendship Elementary School in Deltona and causing more than $50,000 worth of damage to the school library.
The incident was first reported by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, who detailed that the destructive rampage occurred on September 13. Deputies say the pair first entered the campus during the daytime hours before sneaking back onto the property later that night.
A Destructive Rampage
Once inside the elementary school, the boys allegedly went on a destructive rampage inside the media center, the library’s central hub. Investigators reported they hurled books across the library floor, toppled furniture, and scrawled graffiti across doors.
According to authorities, the situation escalated when the pair reportedly returned to the scene to admire their handiwork, causing even more damage and setting off the fire alarm in the process. Deputies responding to the alarm arrived to find the library’s media center completely ransacked and in ruins.
“Overnight, deputies responded to a fire alarm at Friendship Elementary School in Deltona. Once on scene, they found a glass door had been shattered and the media center had been vandalized,” the Volusia Sheriff’s Office shared on social media, posting body camera footage from one of the officers at the scene.
Photos released by the Sheriff’s Office revealed the full, shocking extent of the destruction, with books scattered across the floor, furniture smashed, and property wrecked throughout the facility.
‘Moms Turned Them In’
Investigators also shared surveillance footage showing two suspects entering the library. In the video, one boy could be seen wearing a distinctive Monster Energy cap, while both had their faces partially covered in an attempt to conceal their identities.
After the images were posted online, tips quickly poured in—but it was the suspects’ own mothers who provided the critical leads, recognizing their children and making the difficult decision to alert the authorities.
“Their moms turned them in,” the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced in a Sept. 15 Facebook post that included the mugshots of 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly.
The post further confirmed the details of the confession: “After the video posted, we received lots of emails identifying them (thank you all!), as well as contacts from each of the defendants’ mothers. The boys confessed to the incident, which caused at least $50,000 in damage to the media center. They broke into the school during the daytime hours, then returned later in the evening to look at the damage and cause more.”
Each boy now faces a slate of criminal charges, including two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school grounds, criminal mischief, and theft. The case now moves through the juvenile justice system, highlighting the difficult consequences facing the families involved in this severe act of vandalism.
Authorities have not yet formally confirmed how the case against the two boys—Felix Cohen Romero, 12, and Bentley Ryan Wehrly, 13—will proceed through the juvenile justice system. However, given that the reported damage to Friendship Elementary School’s media center exceeds $50,000, the seriousness of the charges suggests both could be facing significant legal consequences.
Under Florida law, criminal mischief that results in damages exceeding $1,000 is classified as a third-degree felony. While juvenile cases are handled distinctly from adult criminal court, such charges can lead to mandatory penalties within the juvenile system, including:
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Restitution: The boys and their parents could be liable for paying back the full $50,000 cost of the damage and repairs to the school property.
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Community Service: Mandatory hours of community service may be ordered.
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Probation and Sanctions: The boys may be placed on intensive probation, with conditions tied to school attendance and future behavior.
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Collateral Consequences: Even a juvenile delinquency adjudication can carry long-term consequences, potentially affecting future employment or educational opportunities.
Moms Praised for Difficult Choice
The shocking case has sparked widespread reaction online, particularly because the boys’ own mothers were the ones who held them accountable, making the difficult decision to alert authorities after recognizing them in the surveillance footage. The public reaction has overwhelmingly praised the women for this tough, principled choice.
In the comment section of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, supporters lauded the mothers’ courageous actions:
“Great job moms!!! I’m sure that was incredibly hard, but it was the right thing to do. Helping them learn about consequences is the hardest part of being a parent,” one person wrote.
Another commended the parental fortitude, recognizing the weight of the decision:
“Thank you moms for seeing your child needs to see the world doesn’t revolve around them and there [are] consequences to their actions! I know it was probably hard…”
The severe nature of the vandalism and the surprising action taken by the boys’ own mothers have ignited a strong debate online regarding parental accountability and appropriate juvenile punishment.
The Weighing of Consequences
Many commenters expressed concern over the serious implications the charges will have on the young boys’ futures.
“So young to be having a record,” one user commented, acknowledging the long-term impact of the delinquency charges. This sentiment was quickly followed by praise for the mothers: “Good job on the moms for turning them in though!”
The core of the public discussion centers on the balance between discipline and restorative justice.
Suggested Punishment: Clean-Up Duty
A significant number of netizens went further than simply supporting the mothers, suggesting that the punishment for the pre-teens should directly involve cleaning up the damage they caused. This push for practical accountability is viewed as a way for the boys to truly understand the tangible cost of their actions.
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“Assign them the library repair every day to clean up their mess from putting books back on the shelves to cleaning every nook and corner,” suggested one netizen, advocating for mandatory, hands-on labor.
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“They should have to go clean it up during school hours so everyone can see,” another suggested, proposing that the cleanup be done publicly as an educational and humbling experience.
For the boys, the vandalism has brought not only immediate criminal charges but also widespread public scrutiny. Their mothers’ decision to step forward has been hailed as a powerful example of tough but necessary parenting—a stark reminder that accountability and character development must start at home, even when it involves immense personal difficulty.
The Conversation Continues: Your Thoughts
This case forces a hard question about the limits of protection and the demands of ethical parenting. If you knew your child had caused significant, costly damage like these two boys, would you turn your own child in to the police?
Please share your thoughts on accountability, discipline, and the role of parents in ensuring their children face the consequences of their actions. Share this story to get the conversation going!
