Tire-slashing suspect released from jail

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A teenager charged with 41 counts of criminal mischief stemming from a tire-slashing incident on Artist Drive was released from jail Oct. 18. He had been in custody since July 29, held on $2,500 bond.

Lavelle Albert, 18, was released because he was reaching the maximum sentence for a Class B misdemeanor case, Prosecutor Ted Adams said. Oct. 18 had been the date for his change of plea hearing, but that was continued.

“In order to make sure that all victims are served and to make sure that we have some time on probation to work with, we had to release him today,” Adams said.

Albert is accused of slashing tires on multiple vehicles in his former neighborhood on Artist and Wells drives. Twenty-seven victims were counted.

Adams said some of the charges could be increased to Class A misdemeanors if damages on some vehicles top $750. Some cars had all four tires damaged.

Albert was ordered to stay away from Artist Drive as a condition of his bond. He now lives outside town.

The prosecutor’s office had not heard back from 18 victims after sending them multiple letters, Adams said. The plan is to gather victims for a discussion in November to get all of the restitution claims for damages, Adams said.

“I want to make a full and complete restitution request,” he said.

Albert’s final pretrial conference was rescheduled for Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. His trial by court was rescheduled for Dec. 14 at 9 a.m.

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